opaque

[ oh-peyk ]

/ oʊˈpeɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR opaque ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.

not shining or bright; dark; dull.

hard to understand; not clear or lucid; obscure: The problem remains opaque despite explanations.

dull, stupid, or unintelligent.

noun

something that is opaque.

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

verb (used with object), o·paqued, o·paqu·ing.

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

to cause to become opaque.

Nearby words

opal glass, opalesce, opalescent, opaleye, opaline, opaque, opaque context, opaque projector, opaquely, opc, ope

Origin of opaque

1375–1425; late Middle English opake < Latin opācus shaded

SYNONYMS FOR opaque

1 murky, cloudy, muddy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR opaque ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

o·paque·ly, adverbo·paque·ness, nounsub·o·paque, adjectivesub·o·paque·ly, adverb

sub·o·paque·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for opaque

Under Sepp Blatter, its interminable head, the body has been opaque and corrupt.
Best Way to Punish Putin? No World Cup|Tunku Varadarajan|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jersey milk is thick and opaque, but Jersey cows produce much less of it—not enough to cover the coin.
The Secret to This Ice Cream: Pampered Cows|Jane & Michael Stern|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As I organized my umbrella and shed my dripping coat, she sipped something golden and opaque from a tall pint glass.
Wine Snobs, There’s a Beer for You|Jordan Salcito|April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Political rhetoric, of course, is traditionally the most opaque of all.
Will Jargon Be the Death of the English Language?|The Telegraph|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After shaking, he pours the opaque, green liquid through a strainer and into a chilled champagne coupe.
The Absinthe-Minded Porteños of Buenos Aires|Jeff Campagna|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He stayed in his own room, a dim light penetrating the opaque window-panes.
Rudy and Babette|Hans Christian Andersen
A creamy, opaque mixture of the oil and water, called an emulsion, will result.
A Practical Physiology|Albert F. Blaisdell
The Norumbia was off the Banks, and the second day of fog was cold as if icebergs were haunting the opaque pallor around her.
The March Family Trilogy, Complete|William Dean Howells
And while guessing at the true character of this opaque central part, a circumstance occurs disclosing it.
The Lone Ranche|Captain Mayne Reid
An opaque veil had been drawn quite across the heavens, through which we could not make out even the shape of the sun.
The Mystery|Stewart Edward White and Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for opaque

opaque

/ (əʊˈpeɪk) /

adjective

not transmitting light; not transparent or translucent

not reflecting light; lacking lustre or shine; dull

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

hard to understand; unintelligible

unintelligent; dense

noun

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

verb opaques, opaquing or opaqued (tr)

to make opaque

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

Derived Forms

opaquely, adverbopaqueness, noun

Word Origin for opaque

C15: from Latin opācus shady

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for opaque

opaque

[ ō-pāk′ ]

adj.

Impenetrable by light; neither transparent nor translucent.

Science definitions for opaque

opaque

[ ō-pāk′ ]

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. Compare translucent transparent.