opaque

American  

[oh-peyk] / oʊˈpeɪk /

adjective

1. not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.

   Synonyms:

   muddy, cloudy, murky

2. not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.

3. not shining or bright; dark; dull.

4. hard to understand; not clear or lucid; obscure.

   The problem remains opaque despite explanations.

5. dull, stupid, or unintelligent.

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noun

1. something that is opaque.

2. Photography. a coloring matter, usually black or red, used to render part of a negative opaque.

verb (used with object)

opaqued, opaquing

1. Photography. to cover up blemishes on (a negative), especially for making a printing plate.

2. to cause to become opaque.

opaque British  

/ əʊˈpeɪk /

adjective

1. not transmitting light; not transparent or translucent

2. not reflecting light; lacking lustre or shine; dull

3. not transmitting radiant energy, such as electromagnetic or corpuscular radiation, or sound

4. hard to understand; unintelligible

5. unintelligent; dense

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noun

1. photog an opaque pigment used to block out particular areas on a negative

verb

1. to make opaque

2. photog to block out particular areas, such as blemishes, on (a negative), using an opaque

opaque Scientific  

/ ō-pāk′ /

1. Resistant to the transmission of certain kinds of radiation, usually light. Metals and many minerals are opaque to light, while being transparent to radio waves and neutrinos.

2. Compare translucent transparent

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Other Word Forms

• opaquely adverb
• opaqueness noun
• subopaque adjective
• subopaquely adverb
• subopaqueness noun

Etymology

Origin of opaque

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English opake, from Latin opācus “shaded”

Example Sentences

These securities are opaque and may be riskier than most, but to the extent you’re selling to institutions people don’t care that much.

From The Wall Street Journal

The firm—and two Wall Street analysts—called the sale a positive development and validation of the valuation marks on its private-credit portfolio amid investor concerns about the value of opaque private-credit portfolios.

From Barron's

Policymakers should also come out against opaque processes for obtaining tariff exemptions and rapid changes in tariff rates without an articulated framework.

From MarketWatch

He said that the Commission was not against reward programmes per se, but that online platform algorithms were "often opaque".

From BBC

In written submissions, the barrister said that the move was an "institutional signal of suspicion" which breached Freemasons' human rights and was based on "limited, opaque and heavily perception-driven" evidence.

From BBC

Related Words

• blurred
• cloudy
• dirty
• dull
• frosty
• gloomy
• hazy
• impenetrable
• murky
• thick