or

strong,; strong /O:r/ (conjunction)

1 used between two things or before the last in a list of possibilities, things that people can choose from etc: Do you want to leave now or would you rather set off later? | Was it London, Paris or Rome where you first met Maxim? | or anything/something spoken (=or something of the same kind): Would you like a coffee or something? | I wasn't trying to push in or anything. | either... or...: If either Lennie or Miranda calls, I'm not at home.

—compare either 3

2 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.

3 used to warn or advise someone that if they do not do something, something they do not want will happen: Wear your coat or you'll catch cold. | or else: You have to roll the clothes very tightly or else they won't all fit in the rucksack. | You'd better be there, or else. (=used to threaten someone)

4 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. | She was born in Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now called. | or rather: The computer software is old, or rather very out of date.

5 used to explain why something happens or to show that something must be true: He must be very drunk or he wouldn't keep falling down. | or else: It's either a coincidence they're so alike, or else they are related in some way.

6 a minute/a mile/twenty etc or so a particular amount or a little more: They had to wait an hour or so for the police to arrive.

7 a minute/a dollar etc or two a small amount or number of something: I saw Nigel leaving a second or two ago.