• IPA: /ˈɔɹəkəl/, /ˈɒɹəkəl/

oracle (plural oracles)

1. A shrine dedicated to some prophetic deity.
   • 1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christ's Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […] , London: Printed by Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Moſely,  […], published 1645, OCLC 606951673 ↗:

     The oracles are dumb; / No voice or hideous hum / Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.

2. A person such as a priest through whom the deity is supposed to respond with prophecy or advice.
3. A prophetic response, often enigmatic or allegorical, so given.

   • Whatso'er she saith, for oracles must stand.

4. A person considered to be a source of wisdom.

   a literary oracle

   • 1881, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica,_Ninth_Edition/Johnson,_Samuel Samuel Johnson]”, in Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition:

     The country rectors […] thought him an oracle on points of learning.

   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], OCLC 2024748 ↗, (please specify ):

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     oracles of mode

5. A wise sentence or decision of great authority.
6. One who communicates a divine command; an angel; a prophet.
   • 1671, John Milton, “Book the First”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: Printed by J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], OCLC 228732398 ↗:

     God hath now sent his living oracle / Into the world to teach his final will.

7. (computing theory) A theoretical entity capable of answering some collection of questions.
8. (Jewish antiquity) The sanctuary, or most holy place in the temple; also, the temple itself.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book 1”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗:

     Siloa's brook, that flow'd / Fast by the oracle of God.

   • Bible, 1 Kings 6:19, King James Version:

     And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

• (priest acting as conduit of prophecy) prophet
• (person who is a source of wisdom) expert

• French: oracle
• German: Orakel
• Italian: oracolo
• Portuguese: oráculo
• Russian: ора́кул

• French: oracle
• German: Orakel
• Italian: oracolo
• Portuguese: oráculo
• Russian: ора́кул
• Spanish: oráculo

• French: oracle
• German: Orakel, Orakelspruch
• Italian: oracolo, divinazione
• Portuguese: oráculo
• Russian: прорица́ние

• French: oracle
• German: Orakel
• Portuguese: oráculo
• Russian: ора́кул

oracle (oracles, present participle oracling; past and past participle oracled)

1. (obsolete) To utter oracles or prophecies.

• German: orakeln
• Italian: profetizzare, presagire, premonire

1. (computing) A database management system (and its associated software) developed by the Oracle Corporation