east
east / ēst/ • n. (usu. the east) 1. the direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes, on the right-hand side of a person facing north, or the point on the horizon itself: a gale was blowing from the east. ∎ the compass point corresponding to this.2. the eastern part of the world or of a specified country, region, or town: a factory in the east of the city. ∎ (usu. the East) the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe, esp. China, Japan, and India. ∎ (usu. the East) the eastern part of the U.S. from the Alleghenies on the west and north of the Mason-Dixon line. ∎ (usu. the East) hist. the former communist states of eastern Europe.3. (East) Bridge the player sitting to the left of North and partnering West.• adj. 1. lying toward, near, or facing the east: the hospital's east wing. ∎ (of a wind) blowing from the east.2. (often East) of or denoting the eastern part of a specified area, city, or country or its inhabitants: East Texas East African.• adv. to or toward the east: traveling east, he met two men.