oracle An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination. Description The word '' ...

was usually a priest or a priestess through whom the gods were supposed to speak or prophesize. In particular: *

Pythia Pythia (; grc, Πυθία ) was the name of the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), Temple of Apollo at Delphi. She specifically served as its oracle and was known as the Oracle of Delphi. Her title was also historically glossed i ...

– served as an oracle in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. *

Oracle bone Oracle bones () are pieces of ox scapula and turtle plastron, which were used for pyromancy – a form of divination – in ancient China, mainly during the late Shang dynasty. ''Scapulimancy'' is the correct term if ox scapulae were used for th ...

– a bone used for divination in ancient China. *

Nechung Oracle The Nechung Oracle is the personal oracle of the Dalai Lama since the second Dalai Lama. The medium currently resides in Nechung Monastery established Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. The Nechung Oracle was the designated head of the Nechung mon ...

– the state oracle of Tibet. The term oracle is used figuratively to describe various terms in science and engineering.

Computing

* An oracle is a black box for solving a certain computationally-hard problem with a single operation. See :Computation oracles. ** For an oracle in mathematical computability theory, see Computable function#Relative computability. *

Oracle machine In complexity theory and computability theory, an oracle machine is an abstract machine used to study decision problems. It can be visualized as a Turing machine with a black box, called an oracle, which is able to solve certain problems in a s ...

, an algorithm that uses an oracle for a specific problem. * Blockchain oracle, a service that provides smart contracts with information from the outside world * Oracle AI, a hypothetical artificial general intelligence design limited to answering questions

Proper names

Oracle Corporation Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas. In 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company in the world by revenue and market capitalization. The company sells da ...

, a software and enterprise hardware company. **

Oracle Database Oracle Database (commonly referred to as Oracle DBMS, Oracle Autonomous Database, or simply as Oracle) is a multi-model database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation. It is a database commonly used for running online t ...

, a database management system *

ORACLE (computer) The ORACLE or ''Oak Ridge Automatic Computer and Logical Engine'', an early computer built by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was based on the IAS architecture developed by John von Neumann. Summary The ''Oak Ridge National Laboratory Review'' ...

, an early computer

Places

Oracle (workhouse) The Oracle was a workhouse that produced Textile, cloth in the England, English town of Reading, Berkshire, Reading, Berkshire. The Oracle, Reading, The Oracle shopping centre, which now occupies a small part of the site, takes its name from the O ...

, a workhouse erected with funds bequeathed by John Kendrick *

Oracle, Arizona Oracle is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 3,686 at the 2010 Census, falling to 3,051 at the 2020 Census. Buffalo Bill Cody owned the High Jinks Gold Mine in Oracle briefly and, in 191 ...

The Oracle, Queensland The Oracle is a $850 million two-tower luxury apartment development at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. When completed it hold the record for tallest building and highest apartment sale in Broadbeach. The project consi ...

, a development in Australia *

The Oracle, Reading The Oracle is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall on the banks of the River Kennet in Reading, Berkshire, England. Partly on the site of a 17th-century workhouse of the same name, it was developed and is owned by a joint venture of Hammers ...

, a shopping mall in England *

Oracle Arena An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination. Description The word '' ...

, a sports venue

Publications

* ''The Oracle'' (novel), a 2003 book by Catherine Fisher * ''The Oracle'' (University of South Florida), a student newspaper * ''The Oracle'' (magazine), a defunct role-playing games magazine * ''

San Francisco Oracle ''The Oracle of the City of San Francisco'', also known as the ''San Francisco Oracle,'' was an underground newspaper published in 12 issues from September 20, 1966, to February 1968 in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of that city. Allen Cohen (p ...

'', a 1960s underground newspaper * ''The Oracle'', a 1951 novel by

Edwin O'Connor Edwin Greene O'Connor (July 29, 1918 – March 23, 1968) was an American journalist, novelist, and radio commentator. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1962 for his novel '' The Edge of Sadness'' (1961). His ancestry was Irish, and his no ...

* ''Oracle'', a 2010 novel by Jackie French * ''ORA:CLE'', a 1984 novel by Kevin O'Donnell, Jr. * ''The Oracle'', a student newspaper of

Hamline University Hamline University is a private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1854, Hamline is known for its emphasis on experiential learning, service, and social justice. The university is named after Bishop Leonidas Lent Hamline o ...

* ''The Oracle'', a student newspaper of Stratford High School * "Oracle", a short story by

Greg Egan Greg Egan (born 20 August 1961) is an Australian science fiction writer and amateur mathematician, best known for his works of hard science fiction. Egan has won multiple awards including the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the Hugo Award, an ...

Entertainment

Comics

Oracle (Marvel Comics) Randy O'Brien Blackjack O'Hare Blackjack O'Hare is a fictional anthropomorphic hare in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, first appeared in ''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #271 (May 1982). Blackjack O'Hare ...

, a Marvel character and member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard *Oracle, an alias used by DC Comics character

Barbara Gordon Barbara Gordon is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The character was created by television producer William Dozier, editor Julius Schwartz, writer Gardne ...

**Gus Yale, a successor of Oracle *Oracle, the original alias of the DC Comics character who would be reimagined as

Aurakles Abel Abin Sur Abra Kadabra (character) Abby Holland Ace the Bat-Hound Acrata Acrata (Andrea Rojas) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics who was created as part of the ''Planet DC'' annuals event. Sh ...

*Oracle Inc., a company established by the Marvel character

Namor Namor (), also known as the Sub-Mariner, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in early 1939, the character was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for comic book packager Funnies Inc. ...

*The Oracle, a ''

W.I.T.C.H. ''W.I.T.C.H.'' (stylised as ''W.i.t.c.h.'') is an Italian fantasy Disney comics series created by Elisabetta Gnone, Alessandro Barbucci, and Barbara Canepa. The series features a group of five teenage girls who become the guardians of the classi ...

'' character

Film and television

* ORACLE (teletext), a British teletext service that was available on ITV and Channel 4 * ''The Oracle'' (film), a 1953 film * ''Oracle'' (upcoming film), an American horror thriller film * The Oracle (''The Matrix'') * ''The Oracle'' (TV series), a 1979 Australian drama series * The Oracle in ''

Aladdin and the King of Thieves ''Aladdin and the King of Thieves'' is a 1996 American direct-to-video animated musical fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It is the second sequel to the 1992 film ''Aladdin'', and serves as the final chapter and ...

'' * The Oracle, a ''

Casper Meets Wendy ''Casper Meets Wendy'' is a 1998 American fantasy comedy film based on the Harvey Comics cartoon characters Casper the Friendly Ghost and Wendy the Good Little Witch. The film is a sequel to '' Casper: A Spirited Beginning'', and is the second s ...

'' character

Games

* The Oracle of Delphi, a 2016 strategy board game designed by Stefan Feld.

Other fictional characters

* Oracle, a ''

Spider Riders is a series of science fiction novels first published in December 2004, published by Newmarket Press written by Tedd Anasti, Patsy Cameron-Anasti and Stephen D. Sullivan (books 2–3). The series was adapted into an anime series, produced by Be ...

'' character

Music albums

* ''Oracle'' (Kittie album) * ''Oracle'' (Sunn O))) album) * ''Oracle'' (Michael Hedges album) * ''Oracle'' (Gary Peacock and Ralph Towner album) * ''Oracles'' (album), an album by Fleshgod Apocalypse * ''The Oracle'' (Hank Jones album) * ''The Oracle'' (Godsmack album) * ''The Oracle'' (Dark Sermon album) * ''The Oracle'' (Cindy Blackman album)

Songs

* "The Oracle", a composition by Tony Banks * "Oracle", a song by Scale the Summit from the album ''

The Migration ''The Migration'' is the fourth studio album by American instrumental progressive metal band Scale the Summit. It was released on June 11, 2013, through Prosthetic Records. The album was self-produced by the band and Jamie King. The album's artwor ...

Other uses

* Oracle (rocket), model rocket for aerial photography *

BMW Oracle Racing Oracle Team USA is an American yacht racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America's Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 – representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club. ...

, an American sailing syndicate *

Internet Oracle The Internet Oracle (historically known as The Usenet Oracle) is an effort at collective humor in a pseudo- Socratic question-and-answer format. A user sends a question ("tellme") to the Oracle via e-mail, or the Internet Oracle website, and it i ...

, a collaborative humor website * Oracle, a technical symposium organized at Government College of Technology, Coimbatore *

Oracle bone script Oracle bone script () is an ancient form of Chinese characters that were engraved on oracle bonesanimal bones or Turtle shell#Plastron, turtle plastrons used in pyromancy, pyromantic divination. Oracle bone script was used in the late 2nd millen ...

, the earliest Chinese and East Asian writing, script and word.

Computing

Proper names

Places

Publications

Entertainment

Comics

Film and television

Games

Other fictional characters

Music albums

Songs

Other uses

See also