Or
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /É”Ë(ɹ)/
- US IPA: /ɔɹ/, /oʊɹ/
- Rhymes: -É”Ë(r)
- STL IPA: /ɑɹ/
- in non-rhotic accents, awe in non-rhotic accents
Origin 1
Old English oþþe.
Full definition of or
Conjunction
- Connects at least two alternative words, phrases, clauses, sentences, etc. each of which could make a passage true. In English, this is the "inclusive or." The "exclusive or" is formed by "either...or".
- Schuster Hepaticae V|5The sporophyte foot is also characteristic: it is very broad and more or less lenticular or disciform, as broad or broader than the calyptra stalk..., and is sessile on the calyptra base...
- Logical union of two sets of values. There are two forms, an exclusive or and an inclusive or.
- Counts the elements before and after as two possibilities.
- Otherwise; a consequence of the condition that the previous is false
- 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 4, 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.
- It's raining! Come inside or you'll catch a cold!
- Connects two equivalent names.
Synonyms
Origin 2
From Old French or ("yellow"), from Latin aurum ("gold")
Noun
or
(uncountable)- (tincture) The gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms.1909, The metals are gold and silver, these being termed "or" and "argent". — Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry1889, In engraving, "Or" is expressed by dots. — Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry
Related terms
- Au chemical symbol for gold
Synonyms
Origin 3
Late Old English Är, from Scandinavian (compare Old Norse ár). Compare ere.