mineral oil

noun

1. a colorless, oily, almost tasteless, water-insoluble liquid, usually of either a standard light density light mineral oil or a standard heavy density heavy mineral oil, consisting of mixtures of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum by distillation: used chiefly as a lubricant, in the manufacture of cosmetics, and in medicine as a laxative.

mineral oil

noun

1. any oil of mineral origin, esp petroleum
2. a colourless almost tasteless oily liquid obtained by petroleum distillation and used as a laxative Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)liquid paraffin

mineral oil

1. A colorless, odorless, tasteless oil distilled from petroleum. It is used as a lubricant and, in medicine, as a laxative.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mineral oil¹

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Those containers, Mr. Gautier added, held mostly mineral oils and compounds that did not pose an immediate risk to the environment or public safety.

From New York Times

India mainly exports aluminum, organic chemicals, and iron and steel to Greece, whose exports to India include minerals, mineral oils, sulfur, aluminum foil, electrical machinery and equipment and building stones.

From Seattle Times

They included Jolly Ranchers hard sweets containing mineral oil, which if contaminated with other compounds can initiate cancer formations.

From BBC

In an interview, Budoff said he would not have used mineral oil as a placebo had he known then about its possible adverse effects.

From Los Angeles Times

The Orange County company is a major global supplier of the refined mineral oil used in the process of in vitro fertilization.

From Los Angeles Times