əˈbli:k 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]