The meaning of Oblique

adjective

Of language, writing, or thought: characterized by (verbose) indirectness; circumlocutory, roundabout; (formerly also) †deceptive (obsolete). also of a person: that uses such language.

adjective

Of a path, way, or course: winding, circuitous. chiefly figurative and in figurative contexts.

adjective

Placed or inclined at an angle to something else.

Usage examples:

He sent an angled shot into the net

verb

Direct or incline at an angle.

Usage examples:

He angled his chair so that he could watch her

verb

Fish with a rod and line.

Usage examples:

There are no big fish left to angle for

adjective

Not in a straight or level position.

Usage examples:

Her hat was slightly askew

adverb

At an angle or in a sloping direction.

Usage examples:

Some of the paintings hung aslant

preposition

Across (something) at an angle.

Usage examples:

Rays of light fell aslant a door

adverb

Tilted and nearly falling.

Usage examples:

Before i knew it, he was right in front of me, head atilt again, and preening for me.

adjective

Made with the back of the hand facing in the direction of movement.

Usage examples:

A backhanded pass

adverb

With the back of the hand or with the hand turned backwards.

Usage examples:

Frank hit him backhanded

verb

Strike with a backhanded blow or stroke.

Usage examples:

In a flash, he backhanded ace across the jaw

adjective

In a position that is diagonally opposite someone or something else

Usage examples:

Our offices are next to the bank and catty-corner from mcdonald's restaurant.

adjective

(of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way.

Usage examples:

The canal followed a circuitous route

adjective

Not straight or direct; roundabout

Usage examples:

We took a circuitous route home., the train tracks wound circuitously through the canyons.

adjective

Using many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive; long-winded.

Usage examples:

He has a meandering, circumlocutory speaking style

adjective

Relating to something said in an indirect way

Usage examples:

He began in a circumlocutory way, but eventually had to be fairly blunt., it was a difficult interv…

adjective

(of a straight line) joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.

Usage examples:

Draw two diagonal lines dividing the square and the rectangle into triangles.

noun

A straight line joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.

Usage examples:

Do this at a diagonal, from one corner of the square to the opposite corner.

adjective

(of a line) straight and sloping, so that it is neither horizontal nor vertical

Usage examples:

A diagonal line in a circle is often used as a symbol to show that certain behavior is forbidden.

adjective

(of speech or writing) using or involving ellipsis, especially so as to be difficult to understand.

Usage examples:

Elliptical colloquial exchanges

adjective

Shaped like an ellipse

adjective

Tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly.

Usage examples:

She was evasive about her phone number

adjective

Suggested though not directly expressed.

Usage examples:

Comments seen as implicit criticism of the policies

adjective

Suggested but not communicated directly

Usage examples:

We interpreted his silence as implicit agreement., some reporters thought there was an implicit thr…

adjective

Suggested but not directly expressed; implicit.

Usage examples:

She was aware of his implied criticism

verb

Indicate the truth or existence of (something) by suggestion rather than explicit reference.

Usage examples:

Salesmen who use jargon to imply superior knowledge

adjective

Leaning or turning away from the vertical or horizontal; sloping.

Usage examples:

An inclined ramp

verb

Be favourably disposed towards or willing to do something.

Usage examples:

He was inclined to accept the offer

At an angle to the horizontal or vertical position

verb

Be favourably disposed towards or willing to do something.

Usage examples:

He was inclined to accept the offer

noun

An inclined surface or plane; a slope, especially on a road or railway.

Usage examples:

The road climbs a long incline through a forest

verb

Present participle of incline

Usage examples:

The prime minister is believed to be inclining towards an april election., the ground inclined stee…

adjective

Not directly caused by or resulting from something.

Usage examples:

Full employment would have an indirect effect on wage levels

adjective

Happening in addition to an intended result

Usage examples:

Several other people were hurt as an indirect result of his carelessness., an indirect route, ranso…

adjective

Not done or communicated in a direct way

Usage examples:

We decided to take an indirect approach to tackling the problem of absenteeism., he made only an in…

adjective

Not definitely or clearly expressed or explained.

Usage examples:

Inexplicit declarations

noun

A road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it.

Usage examples:

Turn right at the next roundabout

adjective

Not following a short direct route; circuitous.

Usage examples:

We need to take a roundabout route to throw off any pursuit

adjective

Not simple, direct, or quick

Usage examples:

You took the roundabout way to get here.

adjective

Neither parallel nor at right angles to a specified or implied line; askew; crooked.

Usage examples:

His hat looked slightly skew

noun

An oblique angle; a slant.

Usage examples:

The most important effect of the skew in angle is the raised plateau of entrance court created in t…

verb

Suddenly change direction or position.

Usage examples:

The car had skewed across the track

verb

Slope or lean in a particular direction; diverge or cause to diverge from the vertical or horizontal.

Usage examples:

A ploughed field slanted up to the skyline

noun

A sloping position.

Usage examples:

The hedge grew at a slant

adjective

Sloping.

Usage examples:

Slant pockets

adjective

Sloping or leaning in a particular direction.

Usage examples:

A slanted roof

verb

Slope or lean in a particular direction; diverge or cause to diverge from the vertical or horizontal.

Usage examples:

A ploughed field slanted up to the skyline

adjective

Sloping in one direction

Usage examples:

Slanted media coverage is increasing public support for the war.

adjective

Positioned or directed in a sloping or oblique direction.

Usage examples:

The slanting beams of the roof

verb

Slope or lean in a particular direction; diverge or cause to diverge from the vertical or horizontal.

Usage examples:

A ploughed field slanted up to the skyline

adjective

Sloping in one direction

Usage examples:

Swiss chalets have steeply slanting roofs, so that snow does not settle on them.

adjective

Situated at an angle or moving in a sloping direction.

Usage examples:

A slantwise glance

adverb

At an angle or in a sloping direction.

Usage examples:

The bird veers and drops slantwise towards the wood

adjective

Placed or arranged in a sloping position; inclined.

Usage examples:

A sloped leather writing surface

verb

(of a surface or line) be inclined from a horizontal or vertical line; slant up or down.

Usage examples:

The garden sloped down to a stream

verb

Past simple and past participle of slope

Usage examples:

The path slopes up/down to the house., the football pitch sloped at the south end, so one half of t…

adjective

Inclined from a horizontal or vertical line.

Usage examples:

A sloping floor

verb

(of a surface or line) be inclined from a horizontal or vertical line; slant up or down.

Usage examples:

The garden sloped down to a stream

adjective

(of a surface) lying at an angle to the horizontal so that some points on it are higher than others

Usage examples:

Sloping handwriting/shoulders, the bedroom is in the attic so it has a sloping ceiling.

verb

Look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light.

Usage examples:

The bright sun made them squint

noun

A permanent deviation in the direction of the gaze of one eye.

Usage examples:

I had a bad squint

adjective

Not straight or level.

Usage examples:

The squint bottom edge of the puzzle

verb

Move or cause to move into a sloping position.

Usage examples:

The floor tilted slightly

noun

A sloping position or movement.

Usage examples:

The tilt of her head

noun

A combat for exercise or sport between two men on horseback with lances; a joust.

Usage examples:

A tilt at the european cup

verb

Move or cause to move into a sloping position.

Usage examples:

The floor tilted slightly

noun

A sloping position or movement.

Usage examples:

The tilt of her head

noun

A combat for exercise or sport between two men on horseback with lances; a joust.

Usage examples:

A tilt at the european cup