east

noun

• 1the direction towards the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes, on the right-hand side of a person facing north:a gale was blowing from the east the Atlantic Ocean to the east of Florida
• the compass point corresponding to east.

• 2the eastern part of the world or of a specified country, region, or town:a factory in the east of the city
• (the East) the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe, especially China, Japan, and India:the protection of trade routes to the East
• (the East) historical the former communist states of eastern Europe: the centrally planned system of the East

• 3 (East) [as name] Bridge the player sitting to the left of North and partnering West: East passes and you respond one heart

adjective

• 1lying towards, near, or facing the east:the hospital’s east wing
• (of a wind) blowing from the east: a biting east wind

• 2of or denoting the eastern part of a specified region, town, or country:East Fife East African

• 3situated in the part of a church containing the altar or high altar, usually the actual east: the liturgical east window is actually in the south wall

adverb

• to or towards the east:travelling east, he met two men the river rises east of Brentford