opaque

IPA/əʊˈpeɪk/
KK[opˈek]IPA/əʊˈpeɪk/

opaque — adjective

  • opaquepositive
  • more opaquecomparative
  • most opaquesuperlative

1. describes a material or substance that light cannot pass through, so you cannot

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a material or substance that light cannot pass through, so you cannot see what is on the other side or inside it.

例句

Theo peered through the frosted window, but the glass was too opaque to see outside.

opaque glass: used to describe building materials

The painter used opaque white primer to cover the old drawing before starting a new painting.

同義詞
  • cloudy

    suggests partial rather than complete blockage, often of liquids or glass

  • frosted

    specifically describes glass with a textured surface that scatters light

  • murky

    suggests darkness and dirtiness, typically of water or air

反義詞
  • transparent

    allows light through so you can see clearly

  • clear

    easy to see through, no obstruction

用法筆記

Commonly used for materials like glass, plastic, fabric, liquids, and paint. The direct antonym is transparent.

常見錯誤

❌The window is opaque, so I can see the garden clearly through it.
✅The window is transparent, so I can see the garden clearly through it.
💡opaque means no light passes through, so you cannot see through it at all.

2. describes writing, speech, or ideas that are unclear and very difficult to make

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes writing, speech, or ideas that are unclear and very difficult to make sense of, often because the language is complex or deliberately vague.

例句

Theo found the government report completely opaque because it was full of technical jargon.

opaque + because-clause explaining the reason for confusion

Even after reading the rental agreement three times, the legal terms remained opaque to Theo.

remain opaque: linking verb pattern showing continued confusion

同義詞
  • obscure

    suggests something is not well-known or is hard to grasp due to lack of clarity

  • cryptic

    implies deliberate mystery or hidden meaning

  • impenetrable

    suggests total impossibility of understanding

反義詞
  • clear

    easy to understand, with no confusion

  • lucid

    expressed in a way that is easy to follow

  • straightforward

    simple and uncomplicated in meaning

用法筆記

Typically used in formal or academic contexts for texts, policies, explanations, or regulations. Unlike the physical sense, this figurative meaning describes a quality of the content, not a person's mental state.

常見錯誤

❌Theo was opaque during the meeting.
✅Theo was confused during the meeting.
💡opaque describes the explanation or text, not a person's state of mind.
❌The instructions were opaque and easy to follow.
✅The instructions were opaque and hard to follow.
💡opaque means difficult to understand, not clear.