Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

oblique

/oʊˈbliːk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.20 in modern English

Syllables: ob-lique
IPA: /oʊˈbliːk/

18

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base.

adj

Not straightforward; indirect; by implication; (sometimes even) obscure, ambiguous, or confusing.

adj

Disingenuous; underhand; morally corrupt.

adj

Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.

adj

Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side lower than the other.

adj

Growing at an angle that is neither vertical nor horizontal.

adj

Pertaining to the oblique case (non-nominative).

adj

Indirect; employing the actual words of the speaker but as related by a third person, having the first person in pronoun and verb converted into the third person and adverbs of present time into the past, etc.

Example Sentences

"Italic fonts are sometimes described as oblique in typographic terminology."
"when it has a Direction oblique to that of the former Motion, it is either added to, or subtracted from the former Motion"
"The roadside section of the tramway is limited to 12 m.p.h., except over the oblique road crossings, where speed is restricted to 4 m.p.h., with a compulsory stop immediately before."
"The email from HR obliquely informed her that some complaints about her had been received."
"This mode of oblique research, where a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power."
"For the love we bear our friends, / Tho nere so strongly grounded, / Hath in it certain oblique ends / If to the bottome sounded"

Etymology

From Middle French oblique, from Latin oblīquus (also spelled oblīcus) (“slanting, sideways, indirect, envious”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /oʊˈbliːk/
British English: /əˈbliːk/

Usage

Inflected Forms

obliquer (comparative) obliquest (superlative) obliques (plural) obliques (present, singular) obliquing (participle, present) obliqued (participle, past) obliqued (past)

Derived Forms

deobliquing nonoblique obliquely obliqueness obliquity suboblique stroke

Phrases

double-oblique oblique angle oblique arch oblique arytenoid oblique ascension oblique bridge oblique case oblique circle

Synonyms

aslant askew slanting inclined slash devious external oblique muscle musculus obliquus externus abdominis abdominal external oblique muscle

Rhymes With

week speak unique weak seek peak greek technique creek leak freak streak

Questions

How do you pronounce oblique?: The recorded pronunciation is /oʊˈbliːk/.
What does oblique mean?: Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base.
Where does oblique come from?: From Middle French oblique, from Latin oblīquus (also spelled oblīcus) (“slanting, sideways, indirect, envious”).

How to pronounce oblique

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “oblique”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/oʊˈbliːk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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