oil

[ oil ]

noun

1. any of a large class of substances typically unctuous, viscous, combustible, liquid at ordinary temperatures, and soluble in ether or alcohol but not in water: used for anointing, perfuming, lubricating, illuminating, heating, etc.
2. a substance of this or similar consistency.
3. refined or crude petroleum.
4. Painting.
   1. oil color.
   2. oil painting.
5. Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery.
6. an oilskin garment.
7. Australian and New Zealand Slang. facts or news; information:

   good oil.

verb (used with object)

1. to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil.
2. to bribe.
3. to make unctuous or smooth:

   to oil his words.

4. to convert into oil by melting, as butter.

adjective

1. pertaining to or resembling oil.
2. using oil, especially as a fuel:

   an oil furnace.

3. concerned with the production or use of oil:

   an offshore oil rig.

4. made with oil.
5. obtained from oil.

oil

/ ɔɪl /

noun

1. any of a number of viscous liquids with a smooth sticky feel. They are usually flammable, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are obtained from plants and animals, from mineral deposits, and by synthesis. They are used as lubricants, fuels, perfumes, foodstuffs, and raw materials for chemicals See also essential oil fixed oil
2. 1. another name for petroleum
   2. ( as modifier )

      an oil engine

      an oil rig

3. 1. Also calledlubricating oil any of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
   2. ( in combination )

      an oilcan

      an oilstone

   3. ( as modifier )

      an oil pump

4. Also calledfuel oil a petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc
5. 1. paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
   2. ( as modifier )

      an oil lamp

      an oil stove

6. any substance of a consistency resembling that of oil

   oil of vitriol

7. the solvent, usually linseed oil, with which pigments are mixed to make artists' paints
8. 1. often plural oil colour or paint
   2. ( as modifier )

      an oil painting

9. an oil painting
10. the good oil or the dinkum oil slang.
    facts or news
11. strike oil
    1. to discover petroleum while drilling for it
    2. to become very rich or successful

verb

1. to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance
2. informal.
   to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm )
3. oil the wheels
   to make things run smoothly
4. See well-oiled

oil

/ oil /

1. Any of a large class of viscous liquids that are typically very slippery and greasy. Oils are composed mostly of glycerides. They are flammable, do not mix with water, and include animal and vegetable fats as well as substances of mineral or synthetic origin. They are used in food, soap, and candles, and make good lubricants and fuels.
2. See essential oil

Derived Forms

• ˈoil-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• oilless adjective
• oilless·ness noun
• oillike adjective
• re·oil verb
• self-oiling adjective
• un·oiling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil¹

1125–75; Middle English olie, oile < Old French < Latin oleum, olīvum (olive) oil < *oleivum ( Deus ) < dialectal Greek *élaiwon ( Attic élaion ), derivative of *elaíwā olive

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil¹

C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaia olive

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.
2. strike oil,
   1. to discover oil, especially to bring in a well.
   2. to have good luck, especially financially; make an important and valuable discovery:

      They struck oil only after years of market research.

More idioms and phrases containing oil

see banana oil ; burn the midnight oil ; grease (oil) someone's palm ; grease (oil) the wheels ; pour oil on troubled waters ; strike it rich (oil) .

Example Sentences

He did, after all, urge oil executives to underwrite his latest campaign in exchange for undoing environmental rules.

From Los Angeles Times

Firefighters were working with environmental officials to “contain as much of the runoff as possible,” Humphrey said, citing “chemicals, motor oil and cleaning” products in the auto parts store.

From Los Angeles Times

A young oil industry worker was among the passengers on that first flight.

From BBC

The president-elect has pledged to open areas such as the Arctic wilderness to oil drilling, which he argues would lower energy costs.

From BBC

How much oil — and how much profit — remain beneath the waters that buffet the British Isles?

From BBC

Related Words

• coat
• grease