Definitions for ORɔr; unstressed ər

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

or^*ɔr; unstressed ər(conj.)

(used to connect words, phrases, or clauses representing alternatives):
to be or not to be.
Category: Function Word
(used to connect alternative terms for the same thing):
the Hawaiian, or Sandwich, Islands.
Category: Function Word
(used in correlation):
Either we go now or wait till tomorrow.
Category: Function Word
(used to correct or rephrase what was previously said):
His autobiography, or rather memoirs, will be published soon.
Category: Function Word
otherwise; or else:
Be here on time, or we'll leave without you.
Category: Common Vocabulary, Function Word
Logic. the connective used in disjunction.
Category: Common Vocabulary, Philosphy

^* Usage: See and/or, either.

Origin of or:

1150–1200; ME; cf. ay1, whether

or^*ɔr(prep.; conj.)

before; ere.
Category: British, Scottish

^* Archaic..

Origin of or:

bef. 950; ME, OE ār soon

orɔr(n.)

the heraldic color yellow or gold.
Category: Heraldry

Origin of or:

1400–50; late ME < MF < L aurum gold

ORɔr(n.)

a Boolean operator that returns a positive result when either or both operands are positive.
Category: Computers

Origin of OR:

1940–45

operating room.
operations research.
Oregon.

-or^*

a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, directly or through Anglo-French, usu. denoting a condition or property of things or persons, sometimes corresponding to qualitative adjectives ending in -id4 (honor; horror; liquor; pallor); a few other words that orig. ended in different suffixes have been assimilated to this group (behavior; demeanor; glamour).
Category: Affix, Usage Note

^* Usage: The -or spelling of the suffix -or1 is characteristic of American English, with occasional exceptions. In British English -our is still the most common spelling, -or often being retained when certain suffixes are added, as in coloration, honorary, and laborious. The English of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa tends to mirror British practice, whereas Canadian English is about equally divided between U.S. and British forms.―The suffix -or2 is now spelled -or in all forms of English, except for the word savior, once often spelled saviour in the U.S. as in Britain, esp. with reference to Jesus. But the official spelling of Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Methodists is now savior ; saviour is now only British.

Origin of -or:

< L; in some cases continuing ME -our < AF, OF < L -ōr-, s. of -or, earlier -os

-or^*

a suffix forming animate or inanimate agent nouns, occurring orig. in loanwords from Anglo-French (debtor; tailor; traitor); it now functions in English as an orthographic variant of -er1, usu. joined to bases of Latin origin, in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tor (and alternant -sor). Resultant formations often denote machines or less tangible entities that behave in an agentlike way:
projector; repressor; sensor; tractor.
Category: Affix

^* Usage: See -or1.

Origin of -or:

ME < AF, OF -o(u)r < L -ōr; cf. -eur

Princeton's WordNet

Oregon, Beaver State, OR(noun)
a state in northwestern United States on the Pacific
operating room, OR, operating theater, operating theatre, surgery(noun)
a room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations
"great care is taken to keep the operating rooms aseptic"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

or(conjunction)ɔr
indicates the different possibilities
We could have fish or chicken for dinner.; I haven't decided whether to go abroad or stay home.; We can either call him now or wait till later.
orɔr
indicates that a negative statement also relates to sb or sth else
She's doesn't like mushrooms or onions.
orɔr
indicates a change or correction to what has just been stated
The work's done now, or almost done.
orɔr
indicates a consequence
Eat all your dinner, or you won't have dessert.
orɔr
indicates a reason
She must be coming, or she would have called to cancel.

Wiktionary

OR(Noun)
The binary operator inclusive or, true if one at least one of two inputs is true. In infix notation, it has values
OR(Conjunction)
Inclusive or; either one proposition or the other is true or both.
OR(Conjunction)
A lexical symbol to implement inclusive or in a computer language.
OR(Conjunction)
A logical gate to implement inclusive or.
OR(Abbreviation)
Oregon, a state of the United States of America.
OR(Abbreviation)
Orissa, a state of India.
OR(Abbreviation)
Olympic Record