opaque

[oh-peyk]

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.

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

/ 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

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

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of opaque¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of opaque¹

C15: from Latin opācus shady

Example Sentences

This lack of autonomy leaves companies unable to manage how they communicate with shareholders, while the billing practices of these intermediaries remain opaque.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But what we do have is technology that allows us to see things as they are, at this moment, and so a market that was once opaque now operates in plain sight.

Read more on Barron's

The outgoing CEO’s political affiliations remain opaque to the average American despite his tenure spanning four presidential administrations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The thing is it’s so opaque, that we don’t know how it’s going to show up.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Following an opaque trial in Saudi Arabia, five Saudis were sentenced to death and three others to prison terms.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• blurred www.thesaurus.com
• cloudy 
• dirty 
• dull 
• frosty 
• gloomy 
• hazy 
• impenetrable 
• murky 
• thick