Dictionary

or en · CCONJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /oɹ/ strong form
• audio strong form
• /ɚ/ weak form
• /ʌɹ/ strong form
• [əɹ] weak form
• [ɔ(ː)ɹ] (dialectal)
• [ɚ] weak form
• audio strong form
• /ə(ɹ)/ weak form
• /ʔɹ/ strong form
• /ɔː(ɹ)/ strong form
• [oːɹ] strong form
• /ɑɹ/ STL

Etymology

From Middle English or; partially contracted from other, auther, from Old English āþor, āwþer, āhwæþer ("some, any, either"; > either); and partially from Middle English oththe, from Old English oþþe, from Proto-Germanic *efþau (“or”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian of (“or”), Cimbrian odar, òdar (“or”), Dutch of, oft, ofte (“or”), German, Luxembourgish, and Vilamovian oder (“or”), Low German of, àder, àr, åder, år (“or”), Yiddish אָדער (oder, “or”), Icelandic eða, eður (“or”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌸𐌰𐌿 (aiþþau, “or; otherwise”).

Meanings

1. Connects at least two alternative words, phrases, clauses, sentences, etc., each of which could make a passage true.
   • You may stay or go.
   • He might get cancer, or be hit by a bus, or God knows what.
2. An operator denoting the disjunction of two propositions or truth values. There are two forms: the inclusive or and the exclusive or.
3. Counts the elements before and after as two possibilities.
4. Otherwise (a consequence of the condition that the previous is false).
   • No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46:
   • It's raining! Come inside or you'll catch a cold!
5. Connects two equivalent names.
   • The country Myanmar, or Burma
6. Used in between two numbers to denote a range between them.
   • A man of 18 or 20 years

Deriveds

heorshe

Relateds

either · i.e. · neither · nor

Translations (291)

hit 𒈾𒀸𒈠 (conjunction) · xto epe (conjunction) · eo aŭ (conjunction) · txb epe (conjunction) · it oppure (conjunction) · bpl -kaa (conjunction) · nv éí doodaiiʼ éí (conjunction) · sco or (conjunction) · km ឬ (conjunction) · crh ya (conjunction) · sl àli (conjunction) · lo ຫຼື (conjunction) · ps يا (conjunction) · bn অথবা (conjunction) · abs or (conjunction) · zh 抑 (conjunction) · aii ܝܲܢ (conjunction) · wym ober (conjunction) · tr ya da (conjunction) · prg adder (conjunction) · hsb abo (conjunction) · el είτε (conjunction) · nds oder (conjunction) · khb ᦣᦴᧉᦞᦱᧈ (conjunction) · got 𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌸𐌰𐌿 (conjunction) · ps لا (conjunction) · zh 還是 /还是 (conjunction) · kw po (conjunction) · uga 𐎜 (conjunction) · rap o (conjunction) · pl tudzież (conjunction) · as বা (conjunction) · ur یا (conjunction) · eu ala (conjunction) · hil ukon (conjunction) · liv või (conjunction) · kmr yan (conjunction) · gl ou (conjunction) · et ehk (conjunction) · ja あるいは (conjunction) · arc ܐܘ (conjunction) · jv atawa (conjunction) · hy կամ (conjunction) · nb ellers (conjunction) · pcm or (conjunction) · za rox (conjunction) · fo ella (conjunction) · zza ya zi (conjunction) · fi tai (conjunction) · mg na (conjunction) · ja か (conjunction) · yai ё (conjunction) · ru и́ли (conjunction) · az ya da (conjunction) · sh ȉli (conjunction) · eu edo (conjunction) · ia o (conjunction) · lt arba (conjunction) · egy Z1-p-w (conjunction) · ar أَو (conjunction) · kn ಅಥವಾ (conjunction) · mfe ouswa (conjunction) · li óf (conjunction) · gd air neo (conjunction) · uk або́ (conjunction) · lo ຫລື (conjunction) · ar أَو (conjunction) · vi hay (conjunction) · it od (conjunction) · az yaxud (conjunction) · mk или (conjunction) · mg sa (conjunction) · za roxnaeuz (conjunction) · orv или (conjunction) · khb ᦢᧁᧈᦅᦸᧉ (conjunction) · ltg aba (conjunction) · ca o bé (conjunction) · bn কিংবা (conjunction) · ps که (conjunction) · uz yoki (conjunction) · io od (conjunction) · ro sau (conjunction) · hi क (conjunction) · ml അല്ലെങ്കിൽ (conjunction) · se vai (conjunction) · ug ياكى (conjunction) · ka ანუ (conjunction) · ang oþþe (conjunction) · hi व (conjunction) · he אוֹ (conjunction) · ko 혹은 (conjunction) · ar أَم (conjunction) · css yuta (conjunction) · de oder (conjunction) · ar أَو (conjunction) · rue або́ (conjunction) · be або́ (conjunction) · shn ဢမ်ႇၼၼ် (conjunction) · ko -거나 (conjunction) · pt ou (conjunction) · cu или (conjunction) · ro ori (conjunction) · tt я (conjunction) · tl o (conjunction) · ko 또는 (conjunction) · ca o (conjunction) · as নে (conjunction) · fy of (conjunction) · az və ya (conjunction) · hu vagy (conjunction) · grc ἤ (conjunction) · lv jeb (conjunction) · blt ꪭꪳꪫ꪿ꪱ (conjunction) · sd یا (conjunction) · jv utawi (conjunction) · bg и́ли (conjunction) · be альбо́ (conjunction) · fro ou (conjunction) · ba әллә (conjunction) · cv е (conjunction) · kk немесе (conjunction) · an u (conjunction) · yue 定係 /定系 (conjunction) · csb abò (conjunction) · tk ýa (conjunction) · pam o (conjunction) · rue ці (conjunction) · rsk чи (conjunction) · xsv ader (conjunction) · nl of (conjunction) · la sīve (conjunction) · vi hay là (conjunction) · zh 抑是 (conjunction) · zlw-slv abô (conjunction) · ar أَو (conjunction) · nap o (conjunction) · qu icha (conjunction) · ru ли́бо (conjunction) · esu wallu (conjunction) · ckt ԓымӈэвыр (conjunction) · kmr an (conjunction) · tt яисә (conjunction) · mn буюу (conjunction) · be ці (conjunction) · sah эбэтэр (conjunction) · kpv либӧ (conjunction) · ar إما (conjunction) · ga nó (conjunction) · ilo wenno (conjunction) · nn elles (conjunction) · zh хуэйҗәсы (conjunction) · ota ویا (conjunction) · sv eller (conjunction) · sh и̏ли (conjunction) · la aut (conjunction) · la vel (conjunction) · sq apo (conjunction) · sq ose (conjunction) · et või (conjunction) · fa یا (conjunction) · ar أولا (conjunction) · vo u (conjunction) · pl bądź (conjunction) · gd neo (conjunction) · ar ولا (conjunction) · kk яки (conjunction) · si හෝ (conjunction) · dv ނުވަތަ (conjunction) · la seu (conjunction) · af of (conjunction) · fr ou (conjunction) · ja それとも (conjunction) · tr veya (conjunction) · nod ᨣᩤ (conjunction) · tmr אוֹ (conjunction) · rsk або (conjunction) · ta அல்லது (conjunction) · sq a (conjunction) · bg или́ (conjunction) · pa ਜਾਂ (conjunction) · de oder (conjunction) · ast o (conjunction) · da eller (conjunction) · prg angar (conjunction) · fi vai (conjunction) · te గాని (conjunction) · cy neu (conjunction) · bn বা (conjunction) · ce я (conjunction) · kk я (conjunction) · mr किंवा (conjunction) · pl albo (xor-type) (conjunction) · pl czy (conjunction) · uk чи (conjunction) · th หรือ (conjunction) · ms atau (conjunction) · zza ya ki (conjunction) · gu કે (conjunction) · ko -이나 (conjunction) · ckb یان (conjunction) · rup icã (conjunction) · az yoxsa (conjunction) · ceb o (conjunction) · mn эсвэл (conjunction) · ar ولا (conjunction) · nod ᨣᩤᩅ᩵ᩤ (conjunction) · lo ບໍ້ (conjunction) · crh ya da (conjunction) · sa वा (conjunction) · sk abo (conjunction) · vo ud (conjunction) · ml അഥവാ (conjunction) · lb oder (conjunction) · ar ولا (conjunction) · hi अथवा (conjunction) · hi या (conjunction) · tk ýada (conjunction) · udm яке (conjunction) · ltg voi (conjunction) · lv vai (conjunction) · oc o (conjunction) · gd no (conjunction) · tpw konipó (conjunction) · pox ar (conjunction) · haw a i ʻole (conjunction) · aii ܐܵܘ (conjunction) · sw au (conjunction) · sk alebo (conjunction) · io o (conjunction) · gcr ou (conjunction) · zh 或 (conjunction) · la -ve (conjunction) · cs nebo (conjunction) · hit 𒈾𒀸𒋗 (conjunction) · se dahje (conjunction) · mhr але (conjunction) · jam ar (conjunction) · kk не (conjunction) · sc o (conjunction) · fa یَا (conjunction) · yue 或者 (conjunction) · ja 又は (conjunction) · is eða (conjunction) · fi eli (conjunction) · yi אָדער (conjunction) · ru чи (conjunction) · ckt ԓымэвыр (conjunction) · ltg ci (conjunction) · ky же (conjunction) · ja または (conjunction) · el ή (conjunction) · orv чи (conjunction) · dsb abo (conjunction) · rsk лєбо (conjunction) · no eller (conjunction) · br pe (conjunction) · sw ama (conjunction) · ln to (conjunction) · ru а́ли (conjunction) · ar إِمَّا (conjunction) · ba йәки (conjunction) · az ya (conjunction) · ckt эвытԓым (conjunction) · ka ან (conjunction) · id atau (conjunction) · xal эс гиҗ (conjunction) · ko 아니면 (conjunction) · zh хуэйсы (conjunction) · mt jew (conjunction) · yue 抑或 (conjunction) · zh 或是 (conjunction) · my သို့မဟုတ် (conjunction) · haw ā ... paha (conjunction) · ba йә (conjunction) · ar ولا (conjunction) · nv doodaiiʼ (conjunction) · am ወይስ (conjunction) · ne वा (conjunction) · zh 或者 (conjunction) · mi rānei (conjunction) · ckb یا (conjunction) · vi hoặc (conjunction) · ko -나 (conjunction) · es u (conjunction) · tg ё (conjunction) · es o (conjunction) · tt яки (conjunction) · te లేదా (conjunction) · jv utawa (conjunction) · pl lub (or-type) (conjunction) · it o (conjunction)

or en · NOUN · etymology 2

Etymology

From Etymology 1 (sense 2 above).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of OR.
   alt of OR

Forms

Relateds

nand · and · nor · xor

or en · ADJ · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /oɹ/ (US)
• (UK) audio
• /ɔː(ɹ)/ (UK)

Etymology

From late Middle English or (“gold”), borrowed from Middle French or (“yellow”), from Old French or, from Latin aurum (“gold”). Doublet of aurum.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Of gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms.

Synonyms

gold

Translations (17)

fi kultainen (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · de golden (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · fr or (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · sh zlatna (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · ru золото́й (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · mk златнен (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · pl złoty (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · ro auriu (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · da guld (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · it oro (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · es oro (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · hu arany (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · pt ouro (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · sv gyllene (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · sh златна (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · sl zlat (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms) · nl goud (of yellow or gold tincture on a coat of arms)

or en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /oɹ/ (US)
• (UK) audio
• /ɔː(ɹ)/ (UK)

Etymology

From late Middle English or (“gold”), borrowed from Middle French or (“yellow”), from Old French or, from Latin aurum (“gold”). Doublet of aurum.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms.
   • In engraving, "Or" is expressed by dots. 1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry:
   • The metals are gold and silver, these being termed "or" and "argent". 1909, Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry:

Forms

Relateds

d'or · ormolu · Au

Synonyms

o. (gold or yellow tincture) · Or (gold or yellow tincture)

Translations (19)

sk zlatá (gold or yellow tincture) · fr or (gold or yellow tincture) · sh zlatna (gold or yellow tincture) · pt ouro (gold or yellow tincture) · nl goud (gold or yellow tincture) · mk зла́то (gold or yellow tincture) · ro aur (gold or yellow tincture) · ja オーア (gold or yellow tincture) · lt auksas (gold or yellow tincture) · fi kulta (gold or yellow tincture) · sh златна (gold or yellow tincture) · it oro (gold or yellow tincture) · da guld (gold or yellow tincture) · ru зо́лото (gold or yellow tincture) · de Gold (gold or yellow tincture) · es oro (gold or yellow tincture) · nl or (gold or yellow tincture) · el χρυσός (gold or yellow tincture) · sv guld (gold or yellow tincture)

or en · ADP · etymology 4

Etymology

From Late Old English ār, from Old Norse ár. Compare ere.

Meanings

1. (archaic, dialectal) Before; ere. Generally followed by “ever” or “e'er”.
   • Or euer the siluer corde be loosed, or the golden bowle be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountaine, or the wheele broken at the cisterne. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall returne vnto God who gaue it. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 12:6-7:
   • And Time went forth into the worlds to obey the commands of the gods, yet he cast furtive glances at his masters, and the gods distrusted Time because he had known the worlds or ever the gods became. 1906, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods, London: William Heineman, →OCLC, page 3:
   • I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; But or ever a prayer had gusht, A wicked whisper came, and made My heart as dry as dust. 1834, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner:

or en · ADV · etymology 4

Etymology

From Late Old English ār, from Old Norse ár. Compare ere.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) Early (on).
2. (obsolete) Earlier, previously.