oblique Hear it!

oblique definition

ob·lique (ō blēk′, ə-; also, esp. in mil. use, -blīk′)

adjective

  1. having a slanting position or direction; neither perpendicular nor horizontal; not level or upright; inclined
  2. not straight to the point; not straightforward; indirect
  3. evasive, disingenuous, underhanded, etc.
  4. indirectly aimed at or attained oblique results
  5. Anat. designating or of any of certain muscles obliquely placed and attached
  6. Bot. having the sides unequal, as some leaves
  7. Geom. with its axis not perpendicular to its base an oblique cone
  8. Gram. designating or of any case except the nominative and the vocative

Etymology: ME oblike < L obliquus < ob- (see ob-) + liquis, awry < IE *leik-, var. of base *elei-, to bend > ell

noun

an oblique angle, muscle, etc.

intransitive verb obliqued ob·liqued′, obliquing ob·liqu′·ing

to veer from the perpendicular; slant

adverb

Mil. with a change of direction of approximately 45 degrees

Related Forms:

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