Yahoo Canada Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   obscure

   /əbˈskjʊə/

   adjective

   • 1. not discovered or known about; uncertain: "his origins and parentage are obscure" Similar unclearuncertainunknownin doubtdoubtfuldubiousmysterioushazyvagueindeterminateconcealedhidden
   • ▪ not important or well known: "a relatively obscure actor" Similar little knownunknownunheard ofundistinguishedinsignificantunimportantinconsequentialinconspicuousunnoticednamelessanonymousminorhumblelowlyunrenownedunsungunrecognizedunhonouredingloriousforgottenOpposite famousrenowned
   • 2. not clearly expressed or easily understood: "obscure references to Proust" Similar abstrusereconditearcaneesotericrecherchéoccultenigmaticmystifyingpuzzlingperplexingbafflingambiguouscrypticequivocalDelphicoracularriddlingobliqueopaqueellipticalunintelligibleuninterpretableincomprehensibleimpenetrableunfathomableinexplicableunexplainedinformal:as clear as mudOpposite clearplain
   • ▪ hard to define; vague: "I feel an obscure resentment" Similar indistinctfaintvagueill-definedunclearblurredblurrymistyhazyfoggyveiledcloudycloudednebulousfuzzydarkdimunlitblackmurkysombregloomyshadyshadowyliterary:duskytenebrousdarklingcrepuscularrare:caliginousCimmerianOpposite distinct
   • ▪ dark or dim: "the obscure light of dawn"

   verb

   • 1. keep from being seen; conceal: "grey clouds obscure the sun" Similar hideconcealcoverveilshroudscreenmaskcloakcast a shadow overshadowenvelopmantleblockblock outblank outobliterateeclipseovershadowliterary:enshroudbedimbenightrare:obnubilateadumbrateOpposite reveal
   • ▪ make unclear and difficult to understand: "the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives" Similar confusecomplicateobfuscatecloudblurmuddymuddy the watersliterary:becloudbefogOpposite clarifyilluminate
   • ▪ keep from being known: "none of this should obscure the skill and perseverance of the workers"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French obscur, from Latin obscurus ‘dark’, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘cover’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. obscurely adverb

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • O

     1

   • B

     3

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • U

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › obscureObscure Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › obscure

   • Cached

   The meaning of OBSCURE is dark, dim. How to use obscure in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Obscure.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishOBSCURE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   OBSCURE definition: 1. not known to many people: 2. not clear and difficult to understand or see: 3. to prevent…. Learn more.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishOBSCURE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Something that is obscure is difficult to understand or deal with, usually because it involves so many parts or details. The contracts are written in obscure language. Richard's statement was disgracefully obscure. If one thing obscures another, it prevents it from being seen or heard properly.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › obscureObscure - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › obscure

   If something is obscure, it's vague and hard to see. Be careful if you're driving in heavy rain — the painted lines can be obscure. Obscure comes from Latin obscurus, which can mean "dark, dim," "unclear, hard to understand," or "insignificant, humble."

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryOBSCURE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   OBSCURE meaning: 1. not known by many people: 2. difficult to understand: 3. to prevent something from being seen…. Learn more.

7. www.oed.com › dictionary › obscure_adjobscure, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › obscure_adj

   • Cached

   There are 16 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word obscure, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. How common is the word obscure? How is the word obscure pronounced? Where does the word obscure come from?

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionobscure adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   Definition of obscure adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryOBSCURE - Definition & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   If something or someone is obscure, they are unknown, or are known by only a few people.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryOBSCURE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

    • Cached

    OBSCURE meaning: 1. not known to many people: 2. not clear and difficult to understand or see: 3. to prevent…. Learn more.

11. www.thefreedictionary.com › obscureObscure - definition of obscure by The Free Dictionary

    www.thefreedictionary.com › obscure

    • Cached

    obscure - make less visible or unclear; "The stars are obscured by the clouds"; "the big elm tree obscures our view of the valley"