noun
oracle
AW-ruh-kuhl
noun
1
In ancient religion, a shrine or priest through whom a god was believed to answer questions or give prophecy — or the prophecy itself.
"The ancient Greeks traveled to Delphi to consult the oracle."
2
A person regarded as an especially wise or authoritative source of guidance.
"Colleagues treated her as the office oracle whenever a tricky decision came up."
How to Use Oracle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally a divine source of prophecy; today, also used for a person or source seen as wise and reliable.
Common pairings
consult the oracle
seen as an oracle
Word Forms
oracled past tense, oracles plural, oracles singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “oracle”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ancient Greeks traveled to Delphi to consult the _____.
Etymology
From Old French oracle, from Latin oraculum, related to orare, "to speak, pray."