or

conjunction (1)

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\ ər, ˈȯr

, Southern also ˈär \

Definition of or

(Entry 1 of 8)

1 —used as a function word to indicate an alternative coffee or teasink or swim , the equivalent or substitutive character of two words or phrases lessen or abate , or approximation or uncertainty in five or six days

2 archaic : either

3 archaic : whether

4 —used in logic as a sentential connective that forms a complex sentence which is true when at least one of its constituent sentences is true — compare disjunction

preposition

Definition of or (Entry 2 of 8)

archaic

: before

conjunction (2)

Definition of or (Entry 3 of 8)

archaic

: before

noun (1)

\ ˈȯr

Definition of or (Entry 4 of 8)

: the heraldic color gold or yellow

noun (2)

\ ˈȯr

Definition of OR (Entry 5 of 8)

: a logical operator that requires at least one of two inputs to be present or conditions to be met for an output to be made or a statement to be executed OR gate in a computer

abbreviation

Definition of OR (Entry 6 of 8)

1 operating room

2 operational research; operations research

3 Oregon

4 owner's risk

5 own recognizance

-or

noun suffix (1)

Definition of -or (Entry 7 of 8)

: one that does a (specified) thing grantor

-or

noun suffix (2)

Definition of -or (Entry 8 of 8)

: condition : activity demeanor

First Known Use of or

Conjunction (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1947, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for or

Conjunction (1) and Noun (2)

Middle English, alteration of other, alteration of Old English oththe; akin to Old High German eddo or

Preposition

Middle English, from or, adverb, early, before, from Old Norse ār; akin to Old English ǣr early — more at ere

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, gold, from Latin aurum — more at aureus

Noun suffix (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French -ur, -our, -eour & Latin -or; Anglo-French -ur, -our, from Latin -or; Anglo-French -eour, from Latin -ator, from -a-, verb stem + -tor, agent suffix; akin to Greek -tōr, agent suffix, Sanskrit -tā

Noun suffix (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin