obscure

oscuro

ocultar

obscure(uhb-skyuhr)

adjective

1. (not well-known)

a. oscuro (artist, book)

I just discovered an obscure recording of Beny Moré singing with Trio Matamoros.

Acabo de descubrir una oscura grabación de Beny Moré cantando con el Trio Matamoros.

b. poco conocido (artist, book)

This bookstore specializes in vintage and obscure books.

Esta librería se especializa en libros antiguos y poco conocidos.

c. perdido (place)

The sailor was shipwrecked on an obscure island in the Pacific.

El marinero naufragó en una isla perdida del Pacífico.

d. recóndito (place)

He abandoned a career in politics to retire to an obscure town in Appalachia.

Abandonó una carrera política para retirarse a un pueblo recóndito de Appalachia.

2. (hard to understand)

a. oscuro

The song had some obscure references to Restoration literature.

La canción contenía algunas referencias oscuras a la literatura de la Restauración.

b. poco claro

The meaning of the poem is obscure, but I still enjoy it.

El significado del poema es poco claro, pero de todos modos me gusta.

c. extraño (reason)

She would only let us use that frying pan for omelettes for some obscure reason.

Solo nos permitía usar esa sartén para tortillas por alguna razón extraña.

3. (imprecise)

a. vago (feeling, memory)

I had the obscure impression that the suspect was lying to us.

Tenía la vaga impresión de que el sospechoso nos estaba mintiendo.

transitive verb

4. (to hide)

a. ocultar

The mural was partially obscured in the fog.

La niebla ocultaba parcialmente el mural.

5. (to make unclear)

a. oscurecer

I wish he didn't always write lyrics that obscured the meaning so much.

Quisiera que no escribiera siempre letras que oscurecieran tanto el significado.

obscure

adjective

1. (author, book, background)

a. oscuro(a)

2. (remark, argument)

a. oscuro(a), enigmático(a)

3. (feeling, sensation)

a. vago(a), oscuro(a)

transitive verb

4. (hide from view)

a. ocultar

5. (make unclear)

a. oscurecer

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

obscure [əbˈskjʊəʳ]

adjective

1 (not well-known) [+book, artist, poet] poco conocido; oscuro; [+village] recóndito; perdido

some obscure disease we had never heard of before una enfermedad poco conocida de la que nunca habíamos oído hablar antes

an obscure piece of tax law which we had known nothing about

Norris himself has remained relatively obscure el mismo Norris sigue siendo hasta cierto punto un desconocido

2 (not obvious) [+word, jargon, terminology] de difícil comprensión; [+origins] oscuro; poco claro

the meaning is obscure el significado es oscuro or poco claro; for some obscure reason por alguna extraña razón

the origins of Gattey's wealth were somewhat obscure

to make obscure references to sth referirse de forma críptica a algo

he made obscure references to his late mother

3 (indistinct) [+shape, figure] borroso

glimpsing an obscure image of his holy grail

transitive verb

1 (hide) [+object, face, truth] ocultar

some clouds obscured the sun algunas nubes ocultaron el sol; the house is obscured by trees la casa está escondida detrás de unos árboles; my view was obscured by a lady in a large hat una señora con un sombrero enorme no me dejaba ver

the drums obscured her voice an enormous piece of sticking plaster obscured one half of his face

his article obscures the facts su artículo oscurece los hechos; this news should not be allowed to obscure the fact that ... no se debería permitir que esta noticia impida ver claramente que ...; no se debería permitir que esta noticia vele el hecho de que ...

This good news should not obscure the fact that inflation continues at unacceptably high doubts over the penalty should not be allowed to obscure the fact that Forest were the better side he tried to obscure the facts by going into great detail about minor points

2 (complicate) complicar

to obscure the issue

it served only to obscure the matter further sirvió para complicar aun más el asunto