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)