orientate

Imagine landing in a new city, completely lost. To orientate yourself is to figure out where you are, which way is north, and how to get where you need to go. It's about getting your bearings. Originally, it meant to turn something towards the east, but now we use it more broadly to mean finding your position or direction in relation to your surroundings. You might orientate a map so that it matches the land around you, or help new employees orientate themselves by showing them around the office. It's about making sense of where things are and how they relate to you.

To orientate means to position something in relation to a fixed point, or to become familiar with your surroundings. While it is often used interchangeably with "orient," orientate is more common in British English, while "orient" is preferred in American English. Both words share the same root, from the Latin oriens, meaning "east," because early buildings and maps were often positioned towards the rising sun.

Originally, to orientate meant literally to turn something towards the east, like aligning a building or a map. However, its meaning has broadened over time. Now it can mean to adjust or align yourself with a particular set of circumstances or ideas. For example: "The training program is designed to orientate new recruits to company policy."

You might orientate a drawing on a page, ensuring the top aligns with north. Or you could say, "I need some time to orientate myself after the long flight," meaning you need to adjust and get your bearings.

It can also be used figuratively. A politician might orientate their policies towards attracting younger voters. A historian might orientate their research around a specific theme or period.

So, whether it's finding your way in a new place, lining something up with a direction, or adjusting to a new situation, orientate is about establishing direction and context.