Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Orientation \O`ri*en*ta"tion\, n. [Cf. F. orientation.]
   1. The act or process of orientating; determination of the
      points of the compass, or the east point, in taking
      bearings.

   2. The tendency of a revolving body, when suspended in a
      certain way, to bring the axis of rotation into
      parallelism with the earth's axis.

   3. An aspect or fronting to the east; especially (Arch.), the
      placing of a church so that the chancel, containing the
      altar toward which the congregation fronts in worship,
      will be on the east end.

   4. Fig.: A return to first principles; an orderly
      arrangement.

            The task of orientation undertaken in this chapter.
                                                  --L. F. Ward.

Source : WordNet®

orientation
     n 1: the act of orienting
     2: an integrated set of attitudes and beliefs
     3: position or alignment relative to points of the compass or
        other specific directions
     4: a predisposition in favor of something; "a predilection for
        expensive cars"; "his sexual preferences"; "showed a
        Marxist orientation" [syn: {predilection}, {preference}]
     5: a person's awareness of self with regard to position and
        time and place and personal relationships
     6: a course introducing a new situation or environment [syn: {orientation
        course}]