or
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OR 1
(ôr)n.
A logical operator that returns a true value if one or both operands are true.
OR 2
abbr.
1. operating room
2. operations research
3. Oregon
or 1
(ôr; ər when unstressed)conj.
1.
a. Used to indicate an alternative, usually only before the last term of a series: hot or cold; this, that, or the other.
b. Used to indicate the second of two alternatives, the first being preceded by either or whether: Your answer is either ingenious or wrong. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
c. Archaic Used to indicate the first of two alternatives, with the force of either or whether.
2. Used to indicate a synonymous or equivalent expression: acrophobia, or fear of great heights.
3. Used to indicate uncertainty or indefiniteness: two or three.
[Middle English, from other, or (from Old English, from oththe) and from outher (from Old English āhwæther, āther; see either).]
Usage Note: When all the elements in a series connected by or are singular, the verb they govern is singular: Tom or Jack is coming. Beer, ale, or wine is included in the charge. When all the elements are plural, the verb is plural. When the elements do not agree in number, some grammarians have suggested that the verb should agree in number with the nearest element: Tom or his sisters are coming. The girls or their brother is coming. Cold symptoms or headache is the usual first sign. Other grammarians, however, have argued that such constructions are inherently illogical and that the only solution is to revise the sentence to avoid the problem of agreement: Either Tom is coming or his sisters are. The usual first sign may be either cold symptoms or a headache. See Usage Notes at and/or, either, neither, nor1.
or 2
(ôr) Archaicconj.
Before. Followed by ever or ere: "I doubt he will be dead or ere I come" (Shakespeare).
prep.
Before.
[Middle English, variant of er, from Old English ǣr, soon, early, and from Old Norse ār; see ayer- in Indo-European roots.]
or 3
(ôr)n. Heraldry
Gold, represented in heraldic engraving by a white field sprinkled with small dots.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin aurum.]
or
(ɔː; unstressed ə)conj (coordinating)
1. used to join alternatives: apples or pears; apples or pears or cheese; apples, pears, or cheese.
2. used to join rephrasings of the same thing: to serve in the army, or rather to fight in the army; twelve, or a dozen.
3. used to join two alternatives when the first is preceded by either or whether: whether it rains or not we'll be there; either yes or no.
4. one or two a few
5. or else See else3
6. a poetic word for either or whether as the first element in correlatives, with or also preceding the second alternative
[C13: contraction of other, used to introduce an alternative, changed (through influence of either) from Old English oththe; compare Old High German odar (German oder)]
or
(ɔː)conj
(subordinating; foll by ever or ere) before; when
prep
before
[Old English ār soon; related to Old Norse ār early, Old High German ēr]
or
(ɔː)adj
(Heraldry) (usually postpositive) heraldry of the metal gold
[C16: via French from Latin aurum gold]
OR
abbreviation for
1. (Economics) operations research
2. (Placename) Oregon
3. (Military) military other ranks
or1
(ɔr; unstressed ər)conj.
1. (used to connect words, phrases, or clauses representing alternatives): to be or not to be.
2. (used to connect alternative terms for the same thing): the Hawaiian, or Sandwich, Islands.
3. (used in correlation): Either we go now or wait till tomorrow.
4. (used to correct or rephrase what was previously said): His autobiography, or rather memoirs, will be published soon.
5. otherwise; or else: Be here on time, or we'll leave without you.
6. Logic. the connective used in disjunction.
usage: See and/or, either.
or2
(ɔr)prep., conj. Archaic.
before; ere.
[before 950; Middle English, Old English ār soon]
or3
(ɔr)n.
the heraldic color yellow or gold.
[1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin aurum gold]
OR
(ɔr)n.
a Boolean operator that returns a positive result when either or both operands are positive.
[1940–45]
OR
1. operating room.
2. operations research.
3. Oregon.
-or1
, a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, directly or through Anglo-French, usu. denoting a condition or property of things or persons, sometimes corresponding to qualitative adjectives ending in -id4 (honor; horror; liquor; pallor); a few other words that orig. ended in different suffixes have been assimilated to this group (behavior; demeanor; glamour).
[< Latin; in some cases continuing Middle English -our < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin -ōr-, s. of -or, earlier -os]
usage: The -or spelling of the suffix -or1 is characteristic of American English, with occasional exceptions. In British English -our is still the most common spelling, -or often being retained when certain suffixes are added, as in coloration, honorary, and laborious. The English of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa tends to mirror British practice, whereas Canadian English is about equally divided between U.S. and British forms.―The suffix -or2 is now spelled -or in all forms of English, except for the word savior, once often spelled saviour in the U.S. as in Britain, esp. with reference to Jesus. But the official spelling of Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Methodists is now savior; saviour is now only British.
-or2
, a suffix forming animate or inanimate agent nouns, occurring orig. in loanwords from Anglo-French (debtor; tailor; traitor); it now functions in English as an orthographic variant of -er1, usu. joined to bases of Latin origin, in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tor (and alternant -sor). Resultant formations often denote machines or less tangible entities that behave in an agentlike way: projector; repressor; sensor; tractor.
[Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French -o(u)r < Latin -ōr; compare -eur]
usage: See -or1.
or
1. basic uses
You use or when you are mentioning two or more alternatives or possibilities. You use or to link words, phrases, or clauses.
Would you like some coffee or tea, Dr Floyd?
It is better to delay planting if the ground is very wet or frosty.
Do you want to go to the beach or spend time at home?
2. used with negative words
You use or instead of 'and' after using a negative word. For example, say 'I do not like coffee or tea'. Don't say 'I do not like coffee and tea'.
The situation is not fair on the children or their parents.
It is not poisonous and will not harm any animals or birds.
The house is not large or glamorous.
3. verb agreement
When you link two or more nouns using or, you use a plural verb after plural countable nouns, and a singular verb after singular countable or uncountable nouns.
Even minor changes or developments were reported in the press.
If your son or daughter is failing at school, it is no use being angry.
4. 'either ... or'
You use either with or when you are mentioning two alternatives and you want to say that no other alternatives are possible. Either goes in front of the first alternative and or goes in front of the second one.
Replace it with a broadband access device, either rented or costing around $500.
See either ... or
After neither, you usually use nor.
He speaks neither English nor German.
See neither ... nor
5. linking more than two items
When you are linking more than two items, you usually only put or in front of the last one. After each of the others you put a comma. Often the comma is omitted in front of or.
Flights leave from Heathrow, Manchester, Gatwick, or Glasgow.
Students are asked to take another course in English, science or mathematics.
6. beginning a sentence with 'or'
You don't normally put or at the beginning of a sentence, but you can sometimes do so when you are reporting what someone says or thinks.
I may go home and have a steak. Or I may have some spaghetti.
7. used for correcting
You can use or when you are correcting a mistake you have made, or when you think of a better way of saying something.
We were considered by the others to be mad, or at least very strange.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  OR - a state in northwestern United States on the PacificPacific Northwest - a region of the northwestern United States usually including Washington and Oregon and sometimes southwestern British Columbia Crater Lake National Park - a national park in Oregon having the deepest lake in the United States in the crater of an extinct volcano U.S.A., United States, United States of America, US, USA, America, the States, U.S. - North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776 Bend - a town in central Oregon at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range Eugene - a city in western Oregon on the Willamette River; site of a university Klamath Falls - a town in southern Oregon near the California border Medford - a town in southwestern Oregon; a summer resort Portland - freshwater port and largest city in Oregon; located in northwestern Oregon on the Willamette River which divides the city into east and west sections; renowned for its beautiful natural setting among the mountains capital of Oregon, Salem - capital of the state of Oregon in the northwestern part of the state on the Willamette River Klamath, Klamath River - a river flowing southwest from Oregon through northern California to the Pacific Ocean Snake River, Snake - a tributary of the Columbia River that rises in Wyoming and flows westward; discovered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark Expedition Willamette, Willamette River - a river in western Oregon that flows north into the Columbia River near Portland |
| 2. |  OR - a room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations; "great care is taken to keep the operating rooms aseptic"hospital room - a room in a hospital for the care of patients |
Translations
أوأَوْوَإلا، وإذا ما
nebo
ellerellers
aŭ
tai
ilizlatna
vagyarany
atau
eðaeîaeîa, annars
または
또는
autseuvel
kitaip
vaivai arī
aurauriuorisau
lebozlatá
ali
ellerguld
au
หรือ
hoặc
or
[ɔːʳ] CONJ1. (giving alternative) → o; (before o-, ho-) → u; (between numerals) → ó
would you like tea or coffee? → ¿quieres té o café?
seven or eight → siete u ocho
men or women → mujeres u hombres
15 or 16 → 15 ó 16
let me go or I'll scream! → ¡suélteme, o me pongo a gritar!
hurry up or you'll miss the bus → date prisa, que vas a perder el autobús
rain or no rain, you've got to go → con lluvia o sin lluvia, tienes que ir
not ... or → no ... ni ...
he didn't write or telephone → no escribió ni telefoneó
I don't eat meat or fish → no como carne ni pescado
she can't dance or sing → no sabe bailar ni cantar
20 or so → unos veinte, veinte más o menos
an hour or so → una hora más o menos
without relatives or friends → sin parientes ni amigos
see also either C
see also else 4
would you like tea or coffee? → ¿quieres té o café?
seven or eight → siete u ocho
men or women → mujeres u hombres
15 or 16 → 15 ó 16
let me go or I'll scream! → ¡suélteme, o me pongo a gritar!
hurry up or you'll miss the bus → date prisa, que vas a perder el autobús
rain or no rain, you've got to go → con lluvia o sin lluvia, tienes que ir
not ... or → no ... ni ...
he didn't write or telephone → no escribió ni telefoneó
I don't eat meat or fish → no como carne ni pescado
she can't dance or sing → no sabe bailar ni cantar
20 or so → unos veinte, veinte más o menos
an hour or so → una hora más o menos
without relatives or friends → sin parientes ni amigos
see also either C
see also else 4
2. (= that is) → es decir
botany, or the science of plants → botánica, es decir la ciencia que estudia las plantas
or rather → o mejor dicho ..., o más bien ...
"U" and "ó" instead of "o"
botany, or the science of plants → botánica, es decir la ciencia que estudia las plantas
or rather → o mejor dicho ..., o más bien ...
OR
"U" and "ó" instead of "o"
• While or is usually translated by o, use u instead before words beginning with o and ho:
...two or three photos... ...dos o tres fotos... ...for one reason or another... ...por un motivo u otro... She was accused of parricide or homicide Se le acusó de parricidio u homicidio• Write ó instead of o between numerals to prevent confusion with zero:
...5 or 6... ...5 ó 6...! Remember to use ni with negatives.
or
[ˈɔːr](STRONG) [ər] conj (gen) → ou
Would you like tea or coffee? → Voulez-vous du thé ou du café?
or not → ou non
Believe it or not → Croyez-le ou non
Like it or not → Que cela vous plaise ou non ...
whether or not → si oui ou non
Whether or not that is the case → si oui ou non c'est le cas
Would you like tea or coffee? → Voulez-vous du thé ou du café?
or not → ou non
Believe it or not → Croyez-le ou non
Like it or not → Que cela vous plaise ou non ...
whether or not → si oui ou non
Whether or not that is the case → si oui ou non c'est le cas
(= otherwise) → ou
Hurry up or you'll miss the bus → Dépêche-toi, ou tu vas rater le bus.
or else (= otherwise) → sinon
... or else! (in threat) → sinon ...
Give me the money, or else! → Donne-moi l'argent, sinon ...
Hurry up or you'll miss the bus → Dépêche-toi, ou tu vas rater le bus.
or else (= otherwise) → sinon
... or else! (in threat) → sinon ...
Give me the money, or else! → Donne-moi l'argent, sinon ...
(with negative) not ... or → ni ... ni
I don't eat meat or fish → Je ne mange ni viande, ni poisson.
He hasn't seen or heard anything → Il n'a rien vu ni entendu.
I don't eat meat or fish → Je ne mange ni viande, ni poisson.
He hasn't seen or heard anything → Il n'a rien vu ni entendu.
or at least → ou pour le moins
OR
(Med) abbr of operating room → OP m
or
1n (Her) → Gold nt
or
2conj
→ oder; (with neg) → noch; he could not read or write → er konnte weder lesen noch schreiben; without food or water → ohne Nahrung oder Wasser; in a day/month or two → in ein bis or oder zwei Tagen/Monaten; I’m coming, ready or not → ich komme!; we’re going outside, rain or no rain → wir gehen nach draußen, ob es nun regnet oder nicht
or
[ɔːʳ] conj (gen) → oor rather → o meglio, o piuttosto
or else → oppure, se no, altrimenti
do it or else! (fam) → fallo, altrimenti...!
20 or so → circa 20
let me go or I'll scream! → lasciami andare o mi metto a urlare!
without relatives or friends → senza (né) parenti né amici
he can't read or write → non sa né leggere né scrivere
he hasn't seen or heard anything → non ha (né) visto né sentito niente
or
(oː) conjunction1. used to show an alternative. Is that your book or is it mine?
2. because if not. Hurry or you'll be late.
or so about; approximately. I bought a dozen or so (books).
OR
→ أَوْ nebo eller oder ή o tai ou ili oppure または 또는 of eller lub ou или eller หรือ veya hoặc 或者or
conj. o, u (used instead of o before words beginning in o or ho).