1
- used to link alternatives［用于连接可能的选择］或, 或者; 还是, 就是：
a cup of tea or coffee
一杯茶或咖啡
are you coming or not?
你来还是不来？
she couldn't read or write
她读或写都不会
I either take taxis or walk everywhere
不管到哪儿我不是坐出租车就是步行
it doesn't matter whether the theory is right or wrong.
该理论是正确还是错误并没有关系。
2
- introducing a synonym or explanation of a preceding word or phrase即, 或者说：
the espionage novel, or, as it is known in the trade, the thriller.
间谍小说, 或者说, 业内人士所谓的惊险小说。
3
- otherwise (used to introduce the consequences of something not being done or not being the case)否则; 不然：
hurry up, or you'll miss it all.
快点, 不然你什么都赶不上了。
4
- introducing an afterthought, usually in the form of a question常用于疑问句, 表示事后的想法会不会, 要不：
John's indifference-or was it?-left her unsettled.
约翰的冷漠——果真如此吗？——让她心神不宁。
5
- poetic/literary either〈诗/文〉还是：
to love is the one way to know or God or man.
是上帝还是常人, 爱是唯一的试金石。
(常作OR)
1- Electronics a Boolean operator which gives the value one if at least one operand (or input) has a value of one, and otherwise has a value of zero【电子】（逻辑电路的）或。
1.1
- （亦作OR gate）a circuit which gives an output signal if there is a signal on any of its inputs“或”门, “或”门电路。
USAGE
短语
or else
- 见ELSE.
or so
- (after a quantity) approximately在数量后…左右, …上下：
dozen or so people.
十二人左右。
词源
Middle English: a reduced form of the obsolete conjunction other （which superseded Old English oththe 'or'）, of uncertain ultimate origin.