Definition of "oblique" in English

adjective

1. Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base.

   • Italic fonts are sometimes described as oblique in typographic terminology.

2. Not straightforward; indirect; by implication; (sometimes even) obscure, ambiguous, or confusing.

   • The email from HR obliquely informed her that some complaints about her had been received.

3. Disingenuous; underhand; morally corrupt.

4. Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.

5. (botany, of leaves) Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side lower than the other.

6. (botany, of branches or roots) Growing at an angle that is neither vertical nor horizontal.

7. (grammar) Pertaining to the oblique case (non-nominative).

8. (grammar, of speech or narration) Indirect; employing the actual words of the speaker but as related by a third person, having the first person in pronoun and verb converted into the third person and adverbs of present time into the past, etc.

   • They found out obliquely that she had heard from HR about the comments and was taking some time to absorb the sting of an implied reprimand.

9. (music) Employing oblique motion, motion or progression in which one part (voice) stays on the same note while another ascends or descends.

noun

1. (geometry) An oblique line.

2. (typography) Synonym of slash ⟨/⟩.

3. (grammar) The oblique case.

4. (exercise) The musculus obliquus externus abdominis or also obliquus internus abdominis.

verb

1. (intransitive) To deviate from a perpendicular line; to become askew.

2. (military) To march in a direction oblique to the line of the column or platoon; — formerly accomplished by oblique steps, now by direct steps, the men half-facing either to the right or left.

3. (transitive, computing) To slant (text, etc.) at an angle.