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

Determining what customer demand looks like has become more difficult as cloud-service providers have become “really opaque,” he added.

Read more on MarketWatch

Although his finances remain opaque, details of some of his arrangements and controversial business associates have occasionally emerged from court cases.

Read more on BBC

There’s a beat when Michelle casually insists that a clear piece of glass is actually opaque.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is a more than $1 trillion market comprised of loans made to borrowers that couldn’t access bank financing and whose credit is opaque.

Read more on Barron's

It is a more than $1 trillion market comprised of loans made to borrowers that couldn’t access bank financing and whose credit is opaque.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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