VOA Word Book, O

obey [to act as one is ordered to act] She said she became a judge because she believed that people must obey the laws.

object [(1) to show that one does not like or approve; (2) to protest;(3) something not alive that can be seen or touched] The lawyer said he would object if the disputed evidence was given. (1) He objected strongly to the Senator's comment. (2) She found a strange object near her house. (3) observe [(1) to watch; (2) to look at carefully; (3) to celebrate or honor something] She observed everyone who walked past her house. (1) They observed the elections to report on possible violations of voting laws. (2) They will observe the anniversary of the day she was born. (3) occupy [to take and hold or to control by force] Soldiers occupied the town formerly controlled by rebels. ocean [(1) the area of salt water that covers almost seventy-five percent of the earth's surface; (2) any of the five main divisions of this water] We are going to the ocean for two weeks. (1) He has sailed across the Pacific Ocean three times. (2) of [(1) made from; (2) belonging to; (3) about; (4) connected to; (5) included among] Her ring is made of gold. (1) His son is a member of the Boy Scouts. (2) That movie is the story of a woman who wins one million dollars. (3) Someone broke the window of my car. (4) One of my brothers is a doctor. (5) off [(1) away; (2) at a distance; (3) condition when something is no longer operating or continuing; (4) not on; (5) not connected] She walked off without speaking. (1) The lake was 10 miles off. (2) The game is off because of rain. (3) The electric power was off for three hours. (4) He took off the rope so his dog could run. (5) offensive [(1) a military campaign of attack;(2) having to do with attacking] The government offensive began with an air attack. (1) The weapons included a new offensive missile that destroys radar centers. (2) offer [(1) to present or propose;(2) the act of presenting or proposing; (3) that which is presented or proposed] He offered to help her find her car. (1) Republican leaders made an offer to share power with the Democrats. (2) She got a job offer from a computer company in Texas. (3) office [(1) a room or building where business or work is done; (2) a public position to which one is elected or appointed] Her office is on the fortieth floor of the new building. (1) He was elected to the office of Vice President. (2) officer [(1) a person in the military who commands others; (2) any person who is a member of a police force] Her father is an army officer in Germany. (1) Two police officers were honored for saving the lives of five people. (2) official [(1) a person with power in an organization; (2) a representative of an organization or government;(3) of or about an office; (4) approved by the government or someone in power] She is an official of our church council. (1) Members of our local parents and teachers organization are electing an official to represent them at the state level. (2) She read about it in the official newspaper. (3) An official statement said the labor strike would begin at midnight. (4) often [many times] How often do you see each other? oil [(1) a thick liquid that does not mix with water and that burns easily; (2) a black liquid taken from the ground and used as fuel] Oil for heating homes costs a lot more this year. (1) The president says America must produce more of the oil it needs. (2) old [(1) not young or new; (2) having lived or existed for many years] He has an old car and an old house. (1) The old tree has been growing for more than three hundred years. (2) on [(1) above and held up by; (2) touching the upper surface of; (3) supported by; (4) about; (5) at the time of] The clock is on the wall. (1) The book is on the table. (2) He is on his feet. (3) The report on the meeting is ready. (4) He left on Wednesday. (5) once [one time only] We had dinner there once. only [(1) being the single one or ones; (2) no more than] He was the only person here. (1) We have only two dollars. (2) open [(1) to start; (2) not closed; (3) not secret] They opened talks. (1) We saw them through the open window. (2) No secrets were discussed at the open meeting. (3) operate [(1) to do work or a job; (2) to cut into the body for medical reasons] Her family operates a car repair business. (1) Doctors will operate on him to remove a cancer. (2) opinion [a belief based on one's own ideas and thinking] What is your opinion on the power crisis? oppose [(1) to be against; (2) to fight against] She opposes cutting trees in national forests. (1) Protesters promised to oppose attempts to put oil wells in wild areas of Alaska. (2) opposite [(1) as different as possible; (2) completely different from; (3) exactly the other way] They worked on opposite sides of town. (1) The two men held opposite opinions on the war. (2) North is the opposite direction from south. (3) oppress [(1) to make others suffer; (2) to control by the use of unjust and cruel force or power] The Khmer Rouge used torture and murder to oppress the Cambodian people. (1) The American colonists declared independence because Britain oppressed them with heavy taxes and brutal force. (2) or [(1) giving another of two choices; (2) giving the last of several choices] Would you like coffee or tea? (1) I could meet you at noon on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday. (2) orbit [(1) to travel in space around a planet or other object; (2) the path or way an object travels in space around another object or planet] The spacecraft will orbit the moon three times. (1) The satellite is in an orbit that will keep it always above the same place on Earth. (2) order [(1) to give a command; (2) to tell someone what to do; (3) a command; (4) the correct or normal way things are organized; (5) a peaceful situation in which people obey laws] The sergeant ordered the marching soldiers to halt. (1) The court ordered election officials to count the votes again. (2) You have no choice but to obey the order. (3) The President spoke about a new world order. (4) Police stopped the rioting and returned order to the city. (5) organize [(1) to put in order; (2) to put together into a system] He needed a few minutes to organize his thoughts. (1) She will help him organize the material for his book. (2) other [(1) different; (2) of another kind; (3) the remaining one or ones of two or more] Any other woman would have left him. (1) He wanted a life other than his own. (2) That man is short; the other is tall. (3) our [of or belonging to us] We ate our dinner in the park. oust [(1) to force to leave; (2) to remove by force] The soldiers ousted the farmers from the village. (1) The rebels ousted the President. (2) out [(1) away from the inside; (2) opposite of in] He walked out of the house. (1) She was out of the office when I arrived. (2) over [(1) above; (2) covering; (3) across, in or on every part of] She looked up as the plane flew over her. (1) He pulled the blanket over his sleeping daughter. (2) She has traveled all over the world. (3) overthrow [(1) to remove from power; (2) to defeat or end by force] The people of Yugoslavia overthrew the President. (1) The report said the generals were plotting to overthrow the government. (2) owe [to pay or have to repay (usually money) in return for something received] How much do I owe you for the coffee? own [to have or possess for oneself] He said he owned the car.