The Orient (4)
(Other definitions for east that I've seen before include "One regularly holding hands" , "An opponent of North" , "Airport near Derby" , "Player in deal" , "Bridge player" .)
'the orient' is the definition.
(I have seen 'The Orient' mean 'asia' so perhaps 'orient' could also mean 'asia')
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for asia that I've seen before include "Thailand and its location" , "huge territory" , "It has most of the earth's population" , "Huge landmass" , "The nations of the East, collectively" .)