noun
east
ihyst
noun
1
The direction toward which the Earth rotates, where the sun rises.
"The hikers headed east toward the rising sun."
"Our new office faces east."
adj
1
Situated in or facing the east.
"They bought a house on the east side of town."
adv
1
Toward the east.
"The road curves east just past the bridge."
name
1
A region defined by its eastward location, such as "the East" referring to Asia or Eastern Europe.
"Trade routes once linked Europe with the riches of the East."
How to Use East
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe compass direction where the sun rises, or a region lying in that direction.
Common pairings
due east
the Far East
east of
Word Forms
further east comparative, farther east comparative, easts plural, Easts plural, furthest east superlative, farthest east superlative
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Etymology
From Old English ēast, an ancient word shared across the Germanic languages, ultimately going back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "dawn."