east
east — noun
1. the side of the world where the sun appears at the start of the day; the point o
the side of the world where the sun appears at the start of the day; the point on a compass that is opposite to west, or the area of a place located in that direction
The sun rises in the east every morning, so our bedroom windows face that way.
collocation: in the east
Tuan's house is about three miles to the east of the town center.
collocation: to the east of
A cold wind blew from the east all night, rattling the windows in Gita's apartment.
The map shows the river running from north to east across the valley.
Talia pointed toward the east and said the harbor was just over that low hill.
- west
the opposite compass direction
文法句型
to the east
in the east
from the east
用法筆記
When uncapitalized, 'east' refers to the compass direction. When capitalized ('the East'), it refers to a specific region of the world (see sense 2 and sense 3).
常見錯誤
2. the nations and societies of Asia, with a focus on the lands from China and Japa
the nations and societies of Asia, with a focus on the lands from China and Japan through India and Southeast Asia
The spices of the East have been traded along these ocean routes for centuries.
formal register: the East = Asia
Femi's grandfather told stories about his travels to the Far East in the 1960s.
Many religious traditions of the East teach that inner peace comes from letting go of desire.
Kenji studied the art and philosophy of the East at a university in Kyoto.
- Asia
the standard modern term for the continent; broader than 'the East'
- the West
Europe and North America, as cultural counterparts
文法句型
the East
用法筆記
Always capitalized ('the East') when referring to Asia. This usage can sound old-fashioned or formal; in everyday conversation, specific region names ('East Asia', 'Southeast Asia') are more common.
常見錯誤
3. the European countries that were under communist rule from the late 1940s until
the European countries that were under communist rule from the late 1940s until the political changes of 1989 to 1991
After the Berlin Wall fell, many countries in the East opened their borders to Western visitors.
historical register: the East = former communist Europe
Ada remembers when the East and West were divided by barbed wire and checkpoints.
Scholars study how daily life changed in the East after the communist era ended.
Trade between the East and West grew once the Cold War barriers fell.
- Eastern Bloc
a more precise political term for the Soviet-allied countries
- Soviet bloc
emphasizes the dominant role of the Soviet Union in this grouping
- the West
the capitalist democracies of Western Europe and North America during the Cold War
文法句型
the East
用法筆記
Always capitalized ('the East') when used in this historical sense. This meaning is specific to the Cold War period (roughly 1945–1991) and is less relevant to contemporary discussions of Europe.
常見錯誤
east — adjective
1. situated on the side of a place or thing where the sun comes up; facing toward t
situated on the side of a place or thing where the sun comes up; facing toward the direction of sunrise
The east side of the building gets sunlight only in the early morning hours.
attributive use: east side
Aylin lives on the east coast of the island, where the beaches are quiet.
A small east window in the kitchen lets in the morning light.
The east gate of the old city wall is the only part still standing.
Christopher took the east road out of town to reach the mountain trail before noon.
文法句型
east [noun]
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive position). For predicative use ('The side is east'), use 'eastern' instead. 'East' in this sense does not have comparative or superlative forms.
常見錯誤
2. blowing from the eastern direction toward the west — used only to describe a win
blowing from the eastern direction toward the west — used only to describe a wind or breeze
A strong east wind pushed the sailboat dangerously close to the rocky shore.
specialized use: east wind
The fishermen stayed in port because the east wind made the sea too rough.
An east wind in January often brings cold, dry air to this region.
Élise knew from the salt smell that an east wind was blowing in from the sea.
- easterly
used more broadly for wind direction and can also describe currents or routes
- west wind
a wind blowing from the west
文法句型
east wind
用法筆記
This sense applies only to wind. For other things coming from the east (a train, a road), use 'easterly' or simply 'from the east'.
常見錯誤
east — adverb
1. toward or in a direction that is further east; moving to the side of a place whe
toward or in a direction that is further east; moving to the side of a place where the sun rises
The birds flew east for the winter, following the warm air currents across the continent.
adverb after verb of motion: flew east
Ignacio drove east along the highway until he reached the edge of the desert.
The river flows east through the valley and eventually empties into a wide bay.
Beatrix told the children to walk east until they spotted the old wooden lighthouse.
If you travel east from the capital, you reach the coast in about two hours.
文法句型
go east
travel east
face east
head east
用法筆記
When used as an adverb, 'east' does not take a preposition ('We drove east' not 'We drove to east'). To express location rather than direction, use 'to the east' or 'in the east'.