Opposition
[äp′ə zis̸h′ən]
- The definition of an opposition is a conflict, resistance or disagreement.
An example of opposition is the Occupy Wall Street movement.
noun
- the act of opposing
- an opposed condition; resistance, contradiction, contrast, hostility, etc.
- any person, group, or thing that opposes
- a political party opposing, and serving as a check on, the party in power
- Astrol., Astron. the position of two celestial bodies when their celestial longitudes differ by 180°; esp., the position of a superior planet or the full moon when it is in opposition with the sun
- Law the refusal of a creditor to assent to a debtor's release under the bankruptcy law
- Logic the relation of exclusion or inclusion which exists between propositions having the same subject and predicate but differing in quality, quantity, or both
Origin: Middle English opposicioun from Old French opposition from Classical Latin oppositio from oppositus, past participle of opponere: see opponent
Related Forms:
- oppositional adjective
- oppositionist noun, adjective
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
noun
- a. The act of opposing or resisting.b. The condition of being in conflict; antagonism: “The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself” (Virginia Woolf).
- Placement opposite to or in contrast with another.
- Something that serves as an obstacle.
- often Opposition A political party or an organized group opposed to the group, party, or government in power.
- Astronomy a. The position of two celestial bodies when their longitude differs by 180°, especially a configuration in which Earth lies on a straight line between the sun and a superior planet or the moon.b. The position of the superior planet or the moon in this configuration.
- Logic The relation existing between two propositions having an identical subject and predicate but differing in quantity, quality, or both.
- Linguistics Contrast in a language between two phonemes or other linguistically important elements.
Related Forms:
- opˌpo·siˈtion·al adjective
opposition - Science Definition
- A characteristic movement of the primate thumb, in which the pad of the thumb can be placed in contact with the pads of the fingers of the same hand.
- The position of two celestial bodies when their celestial longitude differs by 180°, especially a configuration in which Earth lies on a straight line between the Sun and a superior planet or the Moon. Planets in this position rise as the Sun sets and are visible all night long, reaching their highest point in the sky at midnight; the Moon in this position is full. Compare conjunction. See more at elongation.
Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Opposition
Variant of opposition
noun
- the act of opposing
- an opposed condition; resistance, contradiction, contrast, hostility, etc.
- any person, group, or thing that opposes
- a political party opposing, and serving as a check on, the party in power
- Astrol., Astron. the position of two celestial bodies when their celestial longitudes differ by 180°; esp., the position of a superior planet or the full moon when it is in opposition with the sun
- Law the refusal of a creditor to assent to a debtor's release under the bankruptcy law
- Logic the relation of exclusion or inclusion which exists between propositions having the same subject and predicate but differing in quality, quantity, or both
Origin: Middle English opposicioun from Old French opposition from Classical Latin oppositio from oppositus, past participle of opponere: see opponent
Related Forms:
- oppositional adjective
- oppositionist noun, adjective
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.