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

Worse, some are using opaque, off-balance-sheet “special purpose vehicles” to house the newly issued debt without affecting their credit ratings.

From Barron's

Annuity pricing is often opaque, and the products themselves are frequently sold through commission-based channels, making it difficult for investors to distinguish between necessary insurance features and costly add-ons.

From The Wall Street Journal

Investors can buy Treasuries at regular government auctions through the TreasuryDirect website or through banks and brokers, but selling can be trickier in an opaque over-the-counter market.

From Barron's

For years, Hollywood executives have treated China as a tantalizing but unreliable prize: a massive audience that could supercharge a blockbuster’s global haul, yet one governed by opaque rules, shifting tastes and sudden political constraints.

From MarketWatch

But the firms famous for selling some of Wall Street’s most opaque and illiquid assets don’t really have much in common with the Oracle of Omaha.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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