for something) that is; that means; it would be better to say: She was born in Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now called. 5 or so about; at least; or more: a minute or so | five dollars or so 6 or two (used after singular nouns) about; at least; or more: a minute or two | a dollar or two → see also or else (ELSE)
USAGE Or can be used when you want to limit or correct something you have said: It's going to snow tomorrow, or that's what the forecast says. I He is, or was, a very famous writer.
OR written abbrev. for OREGON
or·a·cle /ˈprækəlɪˈɔː-, ˈɑː-/ n 1. (in ancient Greece) a) a person through whom a god was thought to speak b) a place where a god was believed to answer people's questions through such a person 2 humor or derog a very wise person who can give the best advice: I suppose before we do anything we'd better consult the oracle. 3 work the oracle BrE infml to succeed in doing something difficult → see also DELPHIC ORACLE
o·rac·u·lar /o'rækjylər, ə-‖ər-, ə-/ adj 1 of an oracle 2 (of a statement) solemn and hard to understand
•ral /ˈɔːrəl/ adj 1 spoken, not written: He passed his French oral (examination). 2 especially med of, about, or taken in by the mouth: oral hygiene ︷ly adv
Compare aural which means 'of or received through hearing': an aural test (=a test where students listen) with oral: an oral test (=a test where students speak).
oral contra'ceptive n fml or tech a combination of drugs (usually OESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE) which can be swallowed to prevent a woman becoming PREGNANT → see also MORNING-AFTER PILL, PILL
oral 'sex n [U] the practice of touching the sex organs with the lips and tongue in order to give sexual pleasure → see also CUNNILINGUS, FELLATIO
'oral, surgeon n a DENTIST who can perform operations in the mouth → compare DENTIST
or-ange /ˈɔːrʌndʒɪl/ɔːr-, 'ɑːr/ n 1 [C] a round reddish-yellow bitter-sweet fruit grown in tropical areas, with a thick skin and divided into parts (SEGMENTS) inside: to peel an orange → see picture at FRUIT 2 [U] the colour of an orange —orange adj: an orange glow in the sky
Orange trademark a UK TELECOMMUNICATIONS company which operates a NETWORK for MOBILE PHONES in many parts of the world
or-ange-ade /,or-ndʒ'eɪd‖,ɔː-, ɑː-/ n [U] a drink containing or tasting of orange juice
'orange blossom n [U] the small white flowers of the orange tree
'Orange Bowl, the an important college football game, held every year in Miami, Florida
,Orange Free 'State, the → see FREE STATE
Orange·man /ˈɒrɪndʒmənəl/ˈɔː-, ˈɑː-/ n pl. -men /mən/ a member of a Protestant society in Northern Ireland, known as the Orange Order. Orangemen strongly support the idea that Northern Ireland should remain as part of the UK, and they oppose Catholic groups who want Northern Ireland to become part of Ireland. They are known for their PARADES, when groups of them march through the streets playing traditional Protestant tunes.
'Orangemen's , Day July 12, celebrated by Protestants in Northern Ireland with the Orangemen's Day Parade, which remembers the Protestant success over James II and his Catholic supporters at the Battle of the Boyne
,oranges and 'lemons a British NURSERY RHYME (=an old song for children) based on the names of places, especially churches, in London:
'Oranges and lemons' say the bells of St Clements.
'You owe me five farthings' say the bells of St Martins.
'When will you pay me?' say the bells of Old Bailey.
'When I grow rich' say the bells of Shoreditch.
'When will that be?' say the bells of Stepney.
'I do not know' says the great bell at Bow.
Young children play a game to this song. Two children join hands and hold their arms up to form an arch; they sing the song while the other players go underneath. At the end of the song they say: 'Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head. Chip chop, chip chop the last man's dead' and as they say the last word they bring their arms down quickly to catch a child going underneath.
o·rang·u·tang /ɒr,ræŋu'tæŋ/ə'ræŋətən/ also
o·rang·u·tan /-tæn/ n a large APE (=a large monkey with reddish hair and without a tail) → see picture at APE
•ra·tion /əˈreɪʃən, ɒ-/ n. a formal and solemn public speech: to deliver an oration
or·a·tor /'prətər/ 'ɔː-, 'ɑː-/ n a person who speaks in public, especially strongly and to a large crowd of people
or·a·to·ri·o /,prə'tɔːriəʊl,ɔː-, ˌɑː-/ n pl. -ios a long musical work with singing but without acting, usually telling a story from the Bible or about a religious subject → compare CANTATA
or·a·tory¹ /'prətrɪl'ɔːrətɔri, 'ɑː-/ n [U] 1 the art of making good speeches 2 sometimes derog language highly decorated with long or formal words —rical /prə'tɒrɪkəl/ /prə'tɔːr- / adj —rically /kli/ adv
oratory $ ^{2} $ n (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a small room or building for prayer
orb /ɔːb/ /r/ 1 a ball decorated with gold etc, carried by a king or queen on formal occasions as a sign of power 2 [usually pl.] poet an eye
Or·bi·son, Roy /'ɒbɪsənl'ɔːr-, rɔː/ (1936–88) a US singer and songwriter, who could sing very high notes. His popular love songs include Only the Lonely (1960) and Oh, Pretty Woman (1964).
or·bit¹ /'ɔːbɪtɪl'ɔːr-/ n 1 the curved path of something moving round something else, especially of the Earth going round the sun, or the moon or a spacecraft going round the Earth: a satellite in orbit round the Earth 2 an area of power or influence: countries within orbital road (=round a city)
influence: countries within the Soviet orbit —~al adj: an orbital road (=round a city)
orbit² v [|;T] to move in an orbit (round): The satellite orbits the Earth every 48 hours.
or-chard /ˈɔːtʃəd/ n a place where certain, especially non-CITRUS fruit trees are grown: an apple orchard → compare GROVE
or·ches·tra /'ɔːkʒstrəlˈɔːr-/ n [C+sing./pl. v] a large group of musicians who play music for combinations of different instruments: He plays the violin in a symphony orchestra/string orchestra. → compare BAND², ENSEMBLE
orches·tral /ɔː'kestrəl/ adj of, by, or written for ar
orchestra: orchestral music
'orchestra pit n the space below and in front of a theatre stage where musicians sit and play
orches·trate /'ɔːkʃstreɪtˈɜːr-/ v [T] 1 to arrange (music so that it can be performed by an orchestra 2 sometimes derog to plan (something with many parts) for the best effect: to orchestrate a political campaign | Someone is trying to orchestrate our downfall. —tration /,ɔːkʒɪstreɪʃən\|,ɔːr-/ n [C;U]
or·chid /'ɔːkədˈɒr-/ also or·chis /'ɔːkəsˈɒr-/ tech — n (