First Known Use: 1641
Dictionary
opaque
adjective \ō-ˈpāk\
: not letting light through : not transparent
: difficult to understand or explain
Full Definition of OPAQUE
1
: blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity (see opacity)
2
a : hard to understand or explain <opaque prose> b : obtuse, thickheaded
— opaque noun
— opaque·ly adverb
— opaque·ness noun
See opaque defined for English-language learners
See opaque defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of OPAQUE
- In the opening hour, a group of strangers receive a maddeningly opaque cell-phone summons to join a secret cross-country race with a $32 million prize. The thing is, the summons can also be a threat (one competitor's wife is possibly being help captive), and the consequences of falling behind are murderous. —Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007
- The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships. —Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
- Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce. —Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993
- [+]more
Origin of OPAQUE
Latin opacus (see opacity)
Related to OPAQUE
- Synonyms
- ambiguous, arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical (or elliptic), enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, occult, obscure
- Antonyms
- accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal
Rhymes with OPAQUE
air brake, awake, backache, beefcake, beefsteak, betake, blacksnake, bull snake, canebrake, caretake, cheesecake, cheesesteak, clambake, club steak, corncrake, cube steak, cupcake, daybreak, disc brake, drum brake, earache, earthquake, fair shake, fast break, firebreak, firedrake, fish cake, flank steak, forsake, friedcake, fruitcake, green snake, grubstake, hand brake, handshake, headache, heartache, heartbreak, hoecake, hotcake, housebreak, intake, jailbreak, keepsake, king snake, lapstrake, mandrake, milk snake, mistake, moonquake, muckrake, namesake, newsbreak, oatcake, oil cake, outbreak, outtake, Pan-Cake, pancake, partake, pound cake, pump fake, rat snake, remake, retake, rewake, rock brake, seaquake, sea snake, seedcake, sheldrake, shortcake, snowflake, sponge cake, Swiss steak, tea cake, toothache, unmake, uptake, wheat cake, windbreak, wind shake, youthquake
OPAQUENESS Defined for Kids
opaque
adjective \ō-ˈpāk\
Definition of OPAQUE for Kids
1
: not letting light through : not transparent
2
: not reflecting light : dull <an opaque paint>
Medical Dictionary
opaque
adjective \ō-ˈpāk\
Medical Definition of OPAQUE
: exhibiting opacity : not pervious to radiant energy
—opaque·ness noun
Learn More About OPAQUE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: opaque projectorPrevious Word in the Dictionary: opaloidAll Words Near: opaque
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up opaque? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).