Opaque
oʊˈpeɪk
Definitions
2 meaningsNot allowing light to pass through; not transparent or translucent.
oʊˈpeɪk
Not able to be seen through; not transparent.
The paint was opaque, so you couldn't see the wall beneath.
💡 Simply: Imagine a window painted so thick you can't see through it, like when you're trying to sneak a peek but there's a solid wall in the way. Opaque things are like that – you can't see what's on the other side!
👶 For kids: If something is opaque, it means you can't see through it, like a solid wall.
More Examples
The smoke from the fire made the sky opaque.
The frosted glass was opaque, giving the room privacy.
How It's Used
"The opaque barrier prevented light from passing through."
"Opaque watercolors create a solid color effect."
Difficult to understand; not clear or lucid; obscure.
oʊˈpeɪk
Difficult to understand; obscure.
The company's financial dealings were intentionally opaque.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone explaining something in such a confusing way that you're totally lost, like trying to assemble furniture with instructions written in a secret code. That's opaque – hard to figure out!
👶 For kids: If something is opaque, it means it's hard to understand, like a secret code.
More Examples
The meaning of the poem remained opaque even after several readings.
The instructions were so opaque that I couldn't even start the project.
How It's Used
"The government's opaque policies led to public distrust."
"His writing style was often opaque, making it hard to follow."
From Latin *opācus* meaning 'dark, shady'.
Used in legal and philosophical texts to describe the nature of the world and knowledge since the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of a thick, opaque window that you can't see through.
Word Origin
"dark, shady"