oblique

[uh-bleek, oh-bleek, uh-blahyk, oh-blahyk]

adjective

1. neither perpendicular nor parallel to a given line or surface; slanting; sloping.

2. (of a solid) not having the axis perpendicular to the plane of the base.

3. diverging from a given straight line or course.

4. not straight or direct, as a course.

5. indirectly stated or expressed; not straightforward.

   oblique remarks about the candidate's honesty.

   Synonyms: covert, masked, veiled, indirect

6. indirectly aimed at or reached, as ends or results; deviously achieved.

   Synonyms: covert, masked, veiled, indirect

7. morally, ethically, or mentally wrong; underhand; perverse.

8. Typography.,  (of a letter) slanting toward the right, as a form of sans-serif, gothic, or square-serif type.

9. Rhetoric.,  indirect (applied to discourse in which the original words of a speaker or writer are assimilated to the language of the reporter).

10. Anatomy.,  pertaining to muscles running obliquely in the body as opposed to those running transversely or longitudinally.

11. Botany.,  having unequal sides, as a leaf.

12. Grammar.,  noting or pertaining to any case of noun inflection except nominative and vocative.

    Latin genitive, dative, accusative, and ablative cases are said to be oblique.

13. Drafting.,  designating a method of projection oblique projection in which a three-dimensional object is represented by a drawing oblique drawing in which the face, usually parallel to the picture plane, is represented in accurate or exact proportion, and all other faces are shown at any convenient angle other than 90°.

adverb

1. Military.,  at an angle of 45°.

verb (used without object)

obliqued, obliquing 

1. Military.,  to change direction obliquely.

noun

1. something that is oblique.

2. Grammar.,  an oblique case.

3. Anatomy.,  any of several oblique muscles, especially in the walls of the abdomen.

oblique

/ əˈbliːk /

adjective

1. at an angle; slanting; sloping

2. geometry

   1. (of lines, planes, etc) neither perpendicular nor parallel to one another or to another line, plane, etc

   2. not related to or containing a right angle

3. indirect or evasive

4. grammar denoting any case of nouns, pronouns, etc, other than the nominative and vocative

5. biology having asymmetrical sides or planes

   an oblique leaf

6. (of a map projection) constituting a type of zenithal projection in which the plane of projection is tangential to the earth's surface at some point between the equator and the poles

noun

1. something oblique, esp a line

2. another name for solidus

3. nautical the act of changing course by less than 90°

4. an aerial photograph taken at an oblique angle

verb

1. to take or have an oblique direction

2. (of a military formation) to move forward at an angle

Other Word Forms

• obliqueness noun
• suboblique adjective
• subobliquely adverb
• subobliqueness noun
• obliquely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblique¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English oblike, from Latin oblīquus “slanting,” of uncertain origin; perhaps ob- ob- + a second element perhaps akin to licinus “bent, turned upward” or līmus “askew, aslant” ( limb )

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblique¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin oblīquus, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

It is a typically Herzogian enterprise, highly idiosyncratic and at times frustratingly oblique.

From Los Angeles Times

And this year, I think you saw it more than ever,” noted Muncy, who missed time with knee and oblique injuries.

From Los Angeles Times

“This year was harder than ever, to get to this point,” said third baseman Max Muncy, who missed extensive time himself with knee and oblique injuries.

From Los Angeles Times

Few bands have celebrated the concept of a B-side as an excuse to explore all sorts of oblique ideas and atmospheric impressions with the glee of Saint Etienne.

From Los Angeles Times

Roberts said third baseman Max Muncy, who has missed almost a month with an oblique injury, is expected to be activated for Monday’s series opener.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• backhanded 
• vague