oboe 966
offensive; extremely DISAGREEABLE: an obnoxious smell/
person —ly adv —ness n [U]
o·boe /'əʊbəʊ/ n a musical instrument of the WOODWIND
family, with a double REED played by blowing
o·bo·ist /'əʊbəʊɪst/ n an oboe player
ob·scene /əb'siːn/ adj (especially of ideas, books etc, usually
about sex) offensive to accepted ideas of morality; INDECENT:
The police seized a quantity of obscene publications. | It is
obscene (=shocking) that people should still be dying of star-
vation in the 1990s. —ly adv
ob·scen·i·ty /əb'senɪti/ n 1 [U] obscene language or behav-
iour 2 [C] an obscene word or action: to shout obscenities
ob·scu·ran·tism /ˌɒbskjʊə'ræntɪzəm||ˌɑːb-/ n [U] fml derog
the practice of intentionally stopping ideas and facts from
being known; hiding the truth
ob·scure¹ /əb'skjʊər/ adj 1 hard to understand; not clear: a
speech full of obscure political jokes 2 not well known: an
obscure poet —ly adv
obscure² v [T] to hide; make difficult to see or understand:
The clouds obscured the moon. | The report obscures the fact
that taxes have actually risen.
ob·scu·ri·ty /əb'skjʊərɪti/ n 1 [U] the state of being
obscure: After a 20-year break from acting, the new film
rescued her from obscurity. 2 [C] something which is
obscure: His poems are full of obscurities.
ob·se·quies /'ɒbsɪkwɪz||'ɑːb-/ n [P] fml funeral ceremonies
ob·se·qui·ous /əb'siːkwɪəs/ adj fml too eager to obey or
serve; having too little self-respect; SERVILE: obsequious
servants/behaviour —ly adv —ness n [U]
ob·serv·a·ble /əb'zɜːvəbəl||-ɜːr-/ adj that can be seen or
noticed: no observable improvement —bly adv
ob·ser·vance /əb'zɜːvəns||-ɜːr-/ n 1 [U] behaviour in
accordance with a law, ceremony, or custom: strict observ-
ance of the rules | the observance of Christmas 2 [C often pl.] a
part of a religious ceremony: ritual observances
ob·ser·vant /əb'zɜːvənt||-ɜːr-/ adj 1 quick at noticing
things: Luckily an observant passerby noticed the fire. ⇨
opposite UNOBSERVANT 2 [oft] rare acting in accordance
with especially religious law or custom
ob·ser·va·tion /ˌɒbzə'veɪʃən||ˌɑːbzər-/ n 1 [C;U] (an)
action of noticing or watching: She's in hospital under
observation. (=being watched to see if she is ill) | He left by
the back door to escape observation. (=to avoid being
noticed) | to make scientific observations (=record what one
has noticed) | powers of observation (=ability to notice
things) 2 [C] fml a spoken or written remark (about some-
thing noticed): She made some interesting observations on the
current political scene. 3 [U] observance
,obser'vation ,post n a position from which something, for
example the movements of an enemy, can be watched
,obser'vation ,tower n a tall structure built so that you can
see a long way, used to watch prisoners, look for forest fires
etc
ob·ser·va·to·ry /əb'zɜːvətəri||əb'zɜːrvətːri/ n a place
from which scientists watch natural objects and events
(especially the moon, stars etc)
ob·serve /əb'zɜːv||-ɜːrv/ v [T] 1 a) to see and notice: Did
you observe anything unusual in his behaviour? | [+that/wh-] I
observed that they were late/where they went. | [+obj+v-ing] The
police observed him enter/entering the bank with a shot-
gun. b) to watch with careful attention: to observe the
stars | The police have been observing his movements. 2 to act
in accordance with (law, custom etc): to observe the speed
limit/a cease-fire | Do you observe Christmas? 3 to make a
remark; say: 'That's odd,' he observed. | [+(that)] He observed
that it was odd.
ob·serv·er /əb'zɜːvər||-ɜːr-/ n 1 someone who observes: an
observer of nature | an impartial observer of the current
political scene 2 someone who attends meetings, classes etc
only to listen, not to take part: The United Nations sent a
team of observers to the peace talks.
Observer, The a serious British Sunday newspaper which
generally supports fairly LEFT-WING political ideas. The
Observer is owned by the same company that owns The
Guardian.
ob·sess /əb'ses/ v [T usually :pass.] to completely fill the mind
of (someone) so that no attention is given to other matters;
PREOCCUPY to an extreme degree: She's obsessed by the
thought of another war/with the desire to become a great
scientist.
ob·ses·sion /əb'seʃən/ n [(about, with)] a fixed and often
unreasonable idea with which the mind is continually
concerned: He has an unhealthy obsession with death.
ob·ses·sion·al /əb'seʃənəl/ adj 1 [(about)] (of a person)
having obsessions: She's obsessional about cleanli-
ness. 2 causing or connected with obsessions: His obses-
sional behaviour is beginning to annoy me. | an obsessional
idea/illness
ob·ses·sive¹ /əb'sesɪv/ adj of or being an obsession: his
obsessive interest in sex | an obsessive hatred of women
obsessive² n a person who has obsessions
ob,sessive-com'pulsive adj tech someone who is
obsessive-compulsive tends to repeat particular actions in a
way that is not necessary, because they have strong anxious
feelings: obsessive-compulsive behaviour
ob·sid·i·an /əb'sɪdiən/ n [U] a type of dark rock which looks
like glass
ob·so·les·cent /ˌɒbsə'lesənt||ˌɑːb-/ adj becoming obso-
lete: This type of computer is obsolescent. ⇨ compare MORI-
BUND; see also PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE —cence n [U]
ob·so·lete /'ɒbsəliːt||ˌɑːbsə'liːt/ adj no longer used; com-
pletely out of date: obsolete machinery/ideas/words
ob·sta·cle /'ɒbstəkəl||'ɑːb-/ n [(to)] something which pre-
vents action, movement, or success: She felt that her family
were an obstacle to her work. | They tried to put obstacles in
the way of (=to prevent) our marriage.
'obstacle ,course n 1 a line of objects which runners in an
obstacle race have to jump over/climb through etc: (fig.)
Claimants face an obstacle course of forms, interviews, and
assessments which seem designed to stop them getting their
rights. 2 AmE ASSAULT COURSE
ob·ste·tri·cian /ˌɒbstɪ'trʃən||ˌɑːb-/ n a doctor who is a
specialist in obstetrics
ob·stet·rics /əb'stetrɪks/ n [U] the branch of medicine
concerned with the birth of children —ric adj
ob·sti·nate /'ɒbstɪnət||'ɑːb-/ adj 1 refusing to change one's
opinion or behaviour, in spite of argument or attempts to
persuade one: She's so obstinate – she won't let anyone help
her. | an obstinate child 2 difficult to deal with, control, or
defeat: obstinate resistance | an obstinate cough (=hard to
cure) —ly adv —nacy n [U]
ob·strep·er·ous /əb'strepərəs/ adj fml or humor (of people or
behaviour) noisy, bad-tempered, and uncontrollable —ly
adv —ness n [U]
ob·struct /əb'strʌkt/ v [T] 1 to block up (a road, passage
etc): The broken-down truck obstructed the road/the traf-
fic. 2 to put difficulties in the way of: to obstruct a plan | to
obstruct the course of justice by withholding vital information
ob·struc·tion /əb'strʌkʃən/ n 1 [U] the process of obstruct-
ing: The opposition tried to stop the law being passed by
deliberate obstruction. 2 [C] something that obstructs: an
obstruction in a pipe/in the throat 3 [U] (in football, HOCKEY
etc) a FOUL in which a player gets between an opponent and
the ball so as to prevent the opponent playing the ball
ob·struc·tion·ism /əb'strʌkʃənɪzəm/ n [U] the act of
intentionally obstructing something, especially the passing
of a law —ist n
ob·struc·tive /əb'strʌktɪv/ adj intentionally obstructing:
obstructive behaviour/policy —ly adv —ness n [U]
ob·tain /əb'teɪn/ v 1 [T] rather fml to become the owner of,
especially by means of effort or planning; get: I haven't been
able to obtain that record anywhere. | He said the police had
obtained this information by illegal means. | Further informa-
tion can be obtained from our head office. 2 [I not in progressive
forms] fml to be established; remain in or come into existence:
Those conditions no longer obtain.
ob·tain·a·ble /əb'teɪnəbəl/ adj that can be obtained: I'm
sorry, sir; that type of camera is no longer obtainable. ⇨
opposite UNOBTAINABLE
ob·trude /əb'truːd/ v [I;T] fml 1 to (cause to) stick out: The