oss

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a mouth or mouthlike opening
  2. noun a hard brittle blue-grey or blue-black metallic element that is one of the platinum metals; the heaviest metal known
  3. noun (computer science) software that controls the execution of computer programs and may provide various services

Etymology

Unclear. Middle English ōssen had a rather different meaning, "to reveal, to prophesy", but the OED suggests it could nonetheless be the same verb. The origin of the Middle English verb is itself obscure, but it may be a variant of halsen, from Old English hālsian, although this too had a rather different meaning, "to beseech, entreat; to exorcise; to imprecate".

Synonyms

os

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