Definitions for ORACLEˈɔr ə kəl, ˈɒr-

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

or•a•cleˈɔr ə kəl, ˈɒr-(n.)

  1. (esp. in the ancient world) a shrine at which inquiries are made of a particular deity through a means of divination. the agency by which the inquiry is answered, as a priest or priestess. the typically terse, ambiguous response of the deity.

    Category: Antiquities

  2. a person who delivers authoritative and usu. influential pronouncements.

  3. any utterance regarded as authoritative, unquestionably wise, or infallible.

  4. the holy of holies of the Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. I Kings 6:16, 19–23.

    Category: Bible

Origin of oracle:

1350–1400; ME < OF < L ōrāculum divine utterance <ōrā(re) to supplicate, pray to

Princeton's WordNet

  1. prophet, prophesier, oracle, seer, vaticinator(noun)

    an authoritative person who divines the future

  2. oracle(noun)

    a prophecy (usually obscure or allegorical) revealed by a priest or priestess; believed to be infallible

  3. oracle(noun)

    a shrine where an oracular god is consulted

Wiktionary

  1. oracle(Noun)

    A shrine dedicated to some prophetic deity.

  2. oracle(Noun)

    A person such as a priest through whom the deity is supposed to respond with prophecy or advice.

  3. oracle(Noun)

    A prophetic response, often enigmatic or allegorical, so given.

  4. oracle(Noun)

    A person considered to be a source of wisdom.

  5. oracle(Noun)

    A theoretical entity capable of answering some collection of questions.

  6. Oracle(ProperNoun)

    A database management system (and its associated software) developed by the Oracle Corporation

  7. Origin: From oracle.


Translations for ORACLE

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

oracle(noun)

a very knowledgeable person

I don't know the answer to this problem, so I'd better go and ask the oracle.

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