or

or¹

conjunction

1》 used to link alternatives.

2》 introducing a synonym or explanation of a preceding word or phrase.

3》 otherwise.

4》 archaic either.

noun (OR)

1》 a logical operation which gives the value one if at least one operand has the value one, and otherwise gives a value of zero.

2》 [as modifier] Electronics denoting a gate circuit which produces an output if there is a signal on any of its inputs.

Phrases

or so (after a quantity) approximately.

Origin

ME: a reduced form of the obs. conjunction other (which superseded OE oththe 'or').

————————

or²

noun gold or yellow, as a heraldic tincture.

Origin

C16: from Fr., from L. aurum 'gold'.