objurgate
objurgate: v.tr. literary chide or scold. øøobjurgation n. objurgatory adj. [L objurgare objurgat- (as OB-, jurgare quarrel f. jurgium strife)]

obeche
obeche: n.
1 a West African tree, Triplochiton scleroxylon.
2 the light-coloured timber from this. [Nigerian name]

outdoor
outdoor: adj. done, existing, or used out of doors.

operation
operation: n.
1 a the action or process or method of working or operating. b the state of being active or functioning (not yet in operation). c the scope or range of effectiveness of a thing's activity.
2 an active process; a discharge of a function (the operation of breathing).
3 a piece of work, esp. one in a series (often in pl.: begin operations).
4 an act of surgery performed on a patient.
5 a a strategic movement of troops, ships, etc. for military action. b preceding a code-name (Operation Overlord).
6 a financial transaction.
7 Math. the subjection of a number or quantity or function to a process affecting its value or form, e.g. multiplication, differentiation. øoperations research = operational research. [ME f. OF f. L operatio -onis (as OPERATE)]

optimizationophthalmology
ophthalmology: n. the scientific study of the eye. øøophthalmological adj. ophthalmologist n.

origin
origin: n.
1 a beginning or starting-point; a derivation; a source (a word of Latin origin).
2 (often in pl.) a person's ancestry (what are his origins?).
3 Anat. a a place at which a muscle is firmly attached. b a place where a nerve or blood vessel begins or branches from a main nerve or blood vessel.
4 Math. a fixed point from which coordinates are measured. [F origine or f. L origo -ginis f. oriri rise]

obelus
obelus: n. (pl. obeli.
1 a dagger-shaped reference mark in printed matter.
2 a mark (-- or *!) used in ancient manuscripts to mark a word or passage, esp. as spurious. [L f. Gk obelos SPIT(2)]

outbreak
outbreak: n.
1 a usu. sudden eruption of anger, war, disease, rebellion, etc.
2 an outcrop.

orchid
orchid: n.
1 any usu. epiphytic plant of the family Orchidaceae, bearing flowers in fantastic shapes and brilliant colours, usu. having one petal larger than the others and variously spurred, lobed, pouched, etc.
2 a flower of any of these plants. øøorchidaceous adj. orchidist n. orchidology n. [mod.L Orchid(ac)eae irreg. f. L orchis: see ORCHIS]

organism
organism: n.
1 a living individual consisting of a single cell or of a group of interdependent parts sharing the life processes.
2 a an individual live plant or animal. b the material structure of this.
3 a whole with interdependent parts compared to a living being. [F organisme (as ORGANIZE)]

occupant
occupant: n.
1 a person who occupies, resides in, or is in a place etc. (both occupants of the car were unhurt).
2 a person holding property, esp. land, in actual possession.
3 a person who establishes a title by taking possession of something previously without an established owner. øøoccupancy n. (pl. -ies). [F occupant or L occupans -antis (as OCCUPY)]

obeisance
obeisance: n.
1 a bow, curtsey, or other respectful or submissive gesture (make an obeisance).
2 homage, submission, deference (pay obeisance). øøobeisant adj. obeisantly adv. [ME f. OF obeissance (as OBEY)]

obtrusive
obtrusive: adj.
1 unpleasantly or unduly noticeable.
2 obtruding oneself. øøobtrusively adv. obtrusiveness n. [as OBTRUDE]

obeah
obeah: n. (also obi) a kind of sorcery practised esp. in the West Indies. [W. Afr.]

opinion
opinion: n.
1 a belief or assessment based on grounds short of proof.
2 a view held as probable.
3 (often foll. by on) what one thinks about a particular topic or question (my opinion on capital punishment).
4 a a formal statement of professional advice (will get a second opinion). b Law a formal statement of reasons for a judgement given.
5 an estimation (had a low opinion of it). øbe of the opinion that believe or maintain that. in one's opinion according to one's view or belief. a matter of opinion a disputable point. opinion poll = GALLUP POLL. public opinion views generally prevalent, esp. on moral questions. [ME f. OF f. L opinio -onis (as OPINE)]

obtain
obtain: v.
1 tr. acquire, secure; have granted to one.
2 intr. be prevalent or established or in vogue. øøobtainable adj. obtainability n. obtainer n. obtainment n. obtention n. [ME f. OF obtenir f. L obtinere obtent- keep (as OB-, tenere hold)]

organizeroblique
oblique: adj., n., & v. --adj.
1 a slanting; declining from the vertical or horizontal. b diverging from a straight line or course.
2 not going straight to the point; roundabout, indirect.
3 Geom. a (of a line, plane figure, or surface) inclined at other than a right angle. b (of an angle) acute or obtuse. c (of a cone, cylinder, etc.) with an axis not perpendicular to the plane of its base.
4 Anat. neither parallel nor perpendicular to the long axis of a body or limb.
5 Bot. (of a leaf) with unequal sides.
6 Gram. denoting any case other than the nominative or vocative. --n.
1 an oblique stroke (/).
2 an oblique muscle. --v.intr. (obliques, obliqued, obliquing) esp. Mil. advance obliquely. øoblique oration (or speech) = reported speech (see REPORT ). oblique sphere see SPHERE . øøobliquely adv. obliqueness n. obliquity n. [ME f. F f. L obliquus]