n.
Pronunciation: ō - ' bl ē k, ə -, - ' bl ī k; military usu ī
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English oblike, from Latin obliquus
Date: 15th century
1 a : neither perpendicular nor parallel : INCLINED b : having the axis not perpendicular to the base <an oblique cone> c : having no right angle <an oblique triangle>
2 a : not straightforward : INDIRECT also : OBSCURE b : DEVIOUS , UNDERHANDED
3 : situated obliquely and having one end not inserted on bone < oblique muscles>
4 : taken from an airplane with the camera directed horizontally or diagonally downward <an oblique photograph>
– oblique · ly adverb
– oblique · ness noun