oblique

[ uh-bleek, oh-bleek; Military uh-blahyk, oh-blahyk ]

adjective

1. neither perpendicular nor parallel to a given line or surface; slanting; sloping.
2. (of a solid) not having the axis perpendicular to the plane of the base.
3. diverging from a given straight line or course.
4. not straight or direct, as a course.
5. indirectly stated or expressed; not straightforward:

   oblique remarks about the candidate's honesty.

   Synonyms: covert, masked, veiled, indirect

6. indirectly aimed at or reached, as ends or results; deviously achieved.

   Synonyms: covert, masked, veiled, indirect

7. morally, ethically, or mentally wrong; underhand; perverse.
8. Typography. (of a letter) slanting toward the right, as a form of sans-serif, gothic, or square-serif type.
9. Rhetoric. indirect (applied to discourse in which the original words of a speaker or writer are assimilated to the language of the reporter).
10. Anatomy. pertaining to muscles running obliquely in the body as opposed to those running transversely or longitudinally.
11. Botany. having unequal sides, as a leaf.
12. Grammar. noting or pertaining to any case of noun inflection except nominative and vocative:

    Latin genitive, dative, accusative, and ablative cases are said to be oblique.

13. Drafting. designating a method of projection oblique projection in which a three-dimensional object is represented by a drawing oblique drawing in which the face, usually parallel to the picture plane, is represented in accurate or exact proportion, and all other faces are shown at any convenient angle other than 90°. Compare axonometric, cabinet ( def 19 ), isometric ( def 5 ).

adverb

1. Military. at an angle of 45°.

verb (used without object)

, o·bliqued, o·bliqu·ing.

1. Military. to change direction obliquely.

noun

1. something that is oblique.
2. Grammar. an oblique case.
3. Anatomy. any of several oblique muscles, especially in the walls of the abdomen.

oblique

/ əˈbliːk /

adjective

1. at an angle; slanting; sloping
2. geometry
   1. (of lines, planes, etc) neither perpendicular nor parallel to one another or to another line, plane, etc
   2. not related to or containing a right angle
3. indirect or evasive
4. grammar denoting any case of nouns, pronouns, etc, other than the nominative and vocative
5. biology having asymmetrical sides or planes

   an oblique leaf

6. (of a map projection) constituting a type of zenithal projection in which the plane of projection is tangential to the earth's surface at some point between the equator and the poles

noun

1. something oblique, esp a line
2. another name for solidus
3. nautical the act of changing course by less than 90°
4. an aerial photograph taken at an oblique angle

verb

1. to take or have an oblique direction
2. (of a military formation) to move forward at an angle

Derived Forms

• oˈbliqueness, noun
• oˈbliquely, adverb

Other Words From

• o·bliqueness noun
• subo·blique adjective
• subo·bliquely adverb
• subo·bliqueness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblique¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English oblike, from Latin oblīquus “slanting,” of uncertain origin; perhaps ob- ob- + a second element perhaps akin to licinus “bent, turned upward” or līmus “askew, aslant” ( limb )

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblique¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin oblīquus, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

While he's oblique about the reasons, it appears Hegseth couldn't hack it in the Army, either.

From Salon

Original material began to emerge — songs that were melodic and oblique in equal measure, with arpeggiated guitar hooks and Stipe’s lyrics drifting in and out of focus.

From Los Angeles Times

But his references to wanting love or to start a family are oblique, even though the desire for them feels palpable.

From Los Angeles Times

One affected area, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, was Kershaw’s oblique.

From Los Angeles Times

But ever since he suffered a broken rib and oblique strain in late April of last season, the 29-year-old slugger has been inconsistent with his swing mechanics, according to Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• backhanded
• vague