Opaque Meaning
/əʊˈpeɪk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNeither reflecting nor emitting light.
adjAllowing little light to pass through, not translucent or transparent.
Sentence Examples
Opaque? Not at all. Intuitively obvious to the most casual observer.
You don't know what that small opaque bottle contains.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The bathroom window was made of ____ glass to provide privacy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ curtains blocked all sunlight from entering the room, keeping it completely dark.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English opake, from Latin opacus (“shaded, shady, dark”) (of unknown origin), later reinforced from Middle French opaque. Doublet of ubac.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We have agreed that heat is energy to begin with. Light is also a form of energy for when absorbed by any opaque substance it turns completely into heat."
— 1968, Isaac Asimov, Photosynthesis, Basic Books, Inc., page 60:
"Through this opaque of Nature and of Soul, / This double night, transmit one pitying ray, / To lighten, and to cheer."
— 1745, Edward Young, Night-Thoughts, section I:
"They can be obtained in various thicknesses and in many colors, including beautiful imitations of pearl, mother-of-pearl, veins and mottles, stratifications, roll stratifications, imitation corals, and all colors of translucents, transparents and opaques, grained ivory, shell (plain and corrugated mottle), onyx, wood effects, plaids, checks, stripes, metallic, bronze pearl plain, bronze pearl with fancy blocks, bronze pearl in veins and stripes, and what is called “essence pearl.”"
— 1935 March, F. L. Nowosatka, “Making Colorful Modern Rings from Old Toothbrush Handles”, in Raymond J. Brown, editor, Popular Science Monthly, volume 126, number 3, New York, N.Y.: Popular Science Publishing Co., Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, “The Home Workshop” section, page 97, column 2:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The bathroom window was made of ____ glass to provide privacy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ curtains blocked all sunlight from entering the room, keeping it completely dark.