/ɔ:(r); ɔr/
conj
1 (introducing an alternative 表示选择关系) （用于陈述句中）或, 或者; （用于疑问句中）还是
*Answer yes or no. 回答是或者不是.
* Is it green or blue? 是绿的还是蓝的?
* Are you coming or not? 你来不来?
* Is the baby a boy or a girl? 是男孩儿还是女孩儿? Cf 参看 either...or (either).
2 (introducing all but the first of a series of alternatives 表示除首项事物外的选择关系) （用于陈述句中）或, 或者; （用于疑问句中）还是
*I'd like it to be black, (or) white or grey. 那个东西我喜欢黑 的、（或）白的或灰的.
* Will you have tea, (or) coffee or lemonade? 你喝茶、（还是）咖啡还是汽水?
3 if not; otherwise 否则; 要不然
*Turn the heat down or your cake will burn. 把热度调低吧, 要不蛋糕就要　胡了. Cf 参看or else.
4 (after a negative 用于否定词之後) and neither也不
*He can't read or write. 他不会看书也不会写字.
* They never dance or sing. 他们从不跳舞, 也不唱歌. Cf 参看 neither...nor.
5 (a) (introducing a word or phrase that explains, or means the same as, another 表示一词语对另一词语的解释关系或为其同义词语) 即, 亦即
*an increase of 50p, or
10 shillings in old money 增加50便士, 合旧币10先令
* a kilo, or two pounds 一公斤, 亦即两磅
* geology, or the science of the earth's crust 地质学, 即研究地壳的科学.
(b) (introducing an afterthought表示事後想到而添加的关系)
*He was obviously lying or was he? 他显然在撒谎--是不是呢?
* I need a new coat or do I? 我需要一件新大衣了--需要不需要呢?
6 (idm 习语) either...or => either. or `else
(a) otherwise; because if not; or(3) 否则; 要不然
*Hurry up or ,else you'll be `late. 快点吧, 要不就迟到了.
* You must go to work or ,else you'll lose your `job. 你得去上班了, 要不然就要失去这份工作了.
(b) (infml 口) (used as a threat) or something bad will happen （用以表示威胁）否则後果不妙
*Pay up or else! 快付钱, 要是不付!
* You'd better give me that book or else! 你最好把那本书给我--不给的话! or rather (used when making a statement more accurate or correct 说得更确切些或加以更正)
*We stayed at my friend's house, or rather at my friend's parents' house. 我们住在我朋友家里, 说得确切些是在我朋友的父母家.
* He is my cousin or rather my `father's cousin. 他是我表弟--我是说是我父亲的表弟. or so (suggesting vagueness or uncertainty about quantity 表示含糊的或不确定的量)
*There were `twenty or so, ie about twenty. 大约有二十个.
* We stayed for an `hour or so. 我们停留了一小时左右. or somebody/something/somewhere; somebody/something/somewhere or other (infml 口) (expressing uncertainty or vagueness about a person, thing or place 表示人、物或地点的不确定的或含糊的情形)
*He's a bank manager or something. 他是银行经理这类的人.
* I put it in the cupboard or somewhere. 我把它放在柜橱之类的地方了.
* `Who told you?' `Oh, somebody or other, I've forgotten who.' ｀谁告诉你的?＇｀啊, 有个人, 我忘了是谁了.＇
* It's somewhere or other in the kitchen. 就在厨房的什么地方. or two (after a singular n 用于单数名词之後) or more; about 或更多; 大约
*After a `minute or two we saw him. 一两分钟後我们看见他了.
* I haven't seen him for a `year or two. 我有一两年没见他了. whether...or; whether or not => whether.

conj

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1【possibilities/choices】
2【and not】
3【avoiding bad result】
4【correction】
5【proof】
6【uncertain amounts】

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[Language: Old English;Origin: oththe]
【POSSIBILITIES/CHOICES】
used between two words or phrases to show that either of two things is possible, or used before the last in a list of possibilities or choices
　Shall we go out to the cinema or stay at home?
　You can have ham, cheese or tuna.
... or anything/sth
spoken (=or something of the same kind)
　Would you like a coffee or something?
　She wasn't involved in drugs or anything like that .
　Grapes are usually either green or red.
　He's going to do it whether we like it or not .
　You must do the job yourself or else employ someone else to do it.
→either¹
【AND NOT】
used after a negative verb when you mean not one thing and also not another thing
　He doesn't have a television or a video.
　Sonia never cleans or even offers to wash the dishes.
【AVOIDING BAD RESULT】
used to say that something bad could happen if someone does not do a particular thing
　Wear your coat or you'll catch cold.
　Hurry up or we'll be late.
　I had to defend myself or else he'd have killed me.
　You'd better hand over the money, or else (=used to threaten someone) .
【CORRECTION】
used to correct something that you have said or to give more specific information
　It's going to snow tomorrow, or that's what the forecast says.
　John picked us up in his car, or rather his dad's car which he'd borrowed.
　We've cleaned it all up, or at least most of it.
【PROOF】
used to prove that something must be true, by saying that the situation would be different if it was not true
　He must be at home, or his car wouldn't be here.
　It's obviously not urgent or else they would have called us straight away.
【UNCERTAIN AMOUNTS】
used to show that you are guessing at an amount or number because you cannot be exact
　The boy was three or four years of age.
　I saw Donald leaving a minute or two ago.
　There's a motel a mile or so down the road (=about a mile or possibly a little more) .