6 CONJ You use or to introduce something which is evidence for the truth of a statement you have just made. □ He must have thought Jane was worth it or he wouldn't have wasted time on her, I suppose.
7 PHRASE You use or no or or not to emphasize that a particular thing makes no difference to what is going to happen. [EMPHASIS ] □ Chairman or no, if I want to stop the project, I can. □ The first difficulty is that, old-fashioned or not, it is very good.
8 PHRASE You use or no between two occurrences of the same noun in order to say that whether something is true or not makes no difference to a situation. □ The next day, rain or no rain, it was business as usual.
9 or else → see else
10 or other → see other
11 or so → see so
12 or something → see something
SUFFIX -or
forms nouns that refer to a person who performs a particular action, often because it is their job. For example, a sailor is someone who sails.
ora|cle /ɒ rək ə l, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (oracles ) N‑COUNT In ancient Greece, an oracle was a priest or priestess who made statements about future events or about the truth.
oral /ɔː rəl/ (orals )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Oral communication is spoken rather than written. □ …the written and oral traditions of ancient cultures. □ …an oral agreement. ● oral|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ …their ability to present ideas orally and in writing.
2 N‑COUNT An oral is an examination, especially in a foreign language, that is spoken rather than written. □ I spoke privately to the candidate after the oral.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use oral to indicate that something is done with a person's mouth or relates to a person's mouth. □ …good oral hygiene. ● oral|ly ADV [usu ADV after v] □ …antibiotic tablets taken orally.
o ral hi s|to|ry (oral histories ) N‑VAR Oral history consists of spoken memories, stories, and songs, and the study of these, as a way of communicating and discovering information about the past.
o ral se x N‑UNCOUNT Oral sex is sexual activity involving contact between a person's mouth and their partner's genitals.
or|ange ◆◆◇ /ɒ r I ndʒ, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (oranges )
1 COLOUR Something that is orange is of a colour between red and yellow. □ …men in bright orange uniforms.
2 N‑VAR [oft N n] An orange is a round juicy fruit with a thick, orange coloured skin. □ …orange trees. □ …fresh orange juice.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Orange is a drink that is made from or tastes of oranges. □ …cola or orange. WORD HISTORY orange
Did you know that the word orange comes from the Arabic naranj ? The initial n sound was lost because it got confused with the indefinite article a .
o r|ange blos|som N‑UNCOUNT The flowers of the orange tree are called orange blossom . Orange blossom is white and is traditionally associated with weddings in Europe and America.
or|ang|ery /ɒ r I ndʒri, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (orangeries ) N‑COUNT An orangery is a building with glass walls and roof which is used for growing orange trees and other plants which need to be kept warm.
or|angey /ɒ r I ndʒi, [AM ] ɔː r-/ ADJ Orangey means slightly orange in colour. ● ADJ Orangey is also a combining form. □ The hall is decorated in bright orangey-red with black and gold woodwork.
orang-utan /ɔːræ ŋuːtæ n/ (orang-utans ) also orang-utang , orangutan , orang-outan N‑COUNT An orang-utan is an ape with long reddish hair that comes from Borneo and Sumatra.
ora|tion /əre I ʃ ə n, [AM ] ɔːr-/ (orations ) N‑COUNT An oration is a formal speech made in public. [FORMAL ] □ …a brief funeral oration.
ora|tor /ɒ rətə r , [AM ] ɔː r-/ (orators ) N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] An orator is someone who is skilled at making formal speeches, especially ones which affect people's feelings and beliefs. □ [+ of ] Lenin was the great orator of the Russian Revolution.
ora|tori|cal /ɒ rətɒ r I k ə l, [AM ] ɔː rətɔː r-/ ADJ [ADJ n] Oratorical means relating to or using oratory. [FORMAL ] □ He reached oratorical heights which left him and some of his players in tears.
ora|to|rio /ɒ rətɔː rioʊ, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (oratorios ) N‑COUNT An oratorio is a long piece of music with a religious theme which is written for singers and an orchestra.
ora|tory /ɒ rətəri, [AM ] ɔː rətɔːri/ (oratories )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Oratory is the art of making formal speeches which strongly affect people's feelings and beliefs. [FORMAL ] □ He displayed determination as well as powerful oratory.
2 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An oratory is a room or building where Christians go to pray. □ The wedding will be at the Brompton Oratory next month.
orb /ɔː r b/ (orbs )
1 N‑COUNT An orb is something that is shaped like a ball, for example the sun or moon. [LITERARY ] □ The moon's round orb would shine high in the sky, casting its velvety light on everything.
2 N‑COUNT An orb is a small, ornamental ball with a cross on top that is carried by some kings or queens at important ceremonies.
or|bit /ɔː r b I t/ (orbits , orbiting , orbited )
1 N‑VAR [oft in/into N ] An orbit is the curved path in space that is followed by an object going round and round a planet, moon, or star. □ Mars and Earth have orbits which change with time. □ The planet is probably in orbit around a small star.