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Opaque: Definition, Examples, and Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：not transparent (opaque)
opaque
/oʊˈpeɪk/
adj.
Not able to be seen through; not transparent. Light cannot pass through it.
not transparent
➕
/ˈnɑt trænsˈpærənt/
adj.
Describes a material or substance that does not allow light to pass through, so you cannot see through it.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'opacus' meaning 'shaded, dark, obscure'. Prefix 'ob-' (over) + 'pacus' (thick).
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'O-paque' as 'Oh, pack!' — like a packed, dense object that light cannot pass through.
📖 Example
The bathroom window is made of opaque glass, so no one can see inside.
The bathroom window is made of opaque glass, so no one can see inside.
🔗 Collocations
opaque glass – Glass that does not allow light to pass through clearly.
opaque substance – A material that blocks light completely.
opaque surface – A surface that reflects or absorbs light without transmission.
🔄 Synonyms
impermeable (adj.) – Not allowing fluid or light to pass through.
non-transparent (adj.) – Not transparent; blocking light.
murky (adj.) – Dark, unclear, or difficult to see through (often used for liquids).
🚫 Antonyms
transparent (adj.) – Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be clearly seen.
clear (adj.) – Easy to see through; not cloudy or opaque.
translucent (adj.) – Allowing light to pass through but not clearly revealing shapes.
🌱 Derivatives
opaquely (adv.) – In an opaque manner.
opaqueness (n.) – The quality of being opaque.
opacity (n.) – The state or quality of being opaque; lack of transparency.
📖 Cultural Story
Originating from Latin 'opacus', used in ancient Rome to describe dense forests blocking light. In modern English, it metaphorically extends to obscure ideas or complex texts, common in academic and technical writing.
Meaning 2：difficult to understand (opaque)
opaque
/oʊˈpeɪk/
adj.
Difficult to understand or explain; not clear. It describes something confusing or unclear.
difficult to understand
➕
/ˈdɪfɪkəlt tə ˌʌndərˈstænd/
adj.
Refers to writing, speech, or concepts that are obscure, confusing, or hard to interpret because they lack clarity or are overly complex.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The instructions for setting up the new software were completely opaque to me, so I had to watch a video tutorial.
The instructions for setting up the new software were completely opaque to me, so I had to watch a video tutorial.
🔗 Collocations
opaque language – Language that is difficult to understand due to complexity or ambiguity.
opaque reasoning – Reasoning that is unclear or hard to follow.
opaque text – A piece of writing that is dense or confusing.
🔄 Synonyms
obscure (adj.) – Not well known or not easily understood.
ambiguous (adj.) – Open to more than one interpretation; not clear.
incomprehensible (adj.) – Impossible to understand.
🚫 Antonyms
clear (adj.) – Easy to understand; obvious.
lucid (adj.) – Expressed clearly; easy to understand.
transparent (adj.) – (Figuratively) Easy to perceive or understand; honest and open.
🌱 Derivatives
opaquely (adv.) – In a way that is difficult to understand.
opaqueness (n.) – The quality of being unclear or hard to understand.
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