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)

, o·paqued, o·paqu·ing.

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

/ ō-pāk′ /

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

Derived Forms

• oˈpaquely, adverb
• oˈpaqueness, noun

Other Words From

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

All sides have been accused of hiding some facts and figures which leaves people guessing what is going on inside this still somewhat opaque industry.

From BBC

Lu looks to be Gen Z’s new ambassador for the opaque and brutal.

From Los Angeles Times

"And really, the exact figure, the volume or the breakdown in percentage is actually quite opaque."

From BBC

She manages to be vulnerable, venerable, semi-transparent and entirely opaque, like any of the great gurus.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is, like, the one show where gender doesn’t even matter,” one woman said to her friend, laughing in a mesh crop-top only slightly more opaque than the Juul cloud that followed her in.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blurred
• cloudy
• dirty
• dull
• frosty
• gloomy
• hazy
• impenetrable
• murky
• thick