greasy

American  

[gree-see, ‑zee] / ˈgri si, ‑zi /

adjective

greasier, greasiest

1. smeared, covered, or soiled with grease.

2. composed of or containing grease; oily.

   greasy food.

3. greaselike in appearance or to the touch; slippery.

4. insinuatingly unctuous in manner; repulsively slick; oily.

5. Veterinary Pathology.  affected with grease.

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greasy British  

/ -sɪ, ˈɡriːzɪ /

adjective

1. coated or soiled with or as if with grease

2. composed of or full of grease

3. resembling grease

4. unctuous or oily in manner

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noun

1. a shearer

2. an outback cook, esp cooking for a number of men

Pronunciation

greasy is almost always pronounced as , with a medial , in the South Midland and Southern U.S. and as , with a medial , in New England, New York State, and the Great Lakes Basin. Speakers of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania are divided, with some using and some using . Standard British English reflects both and pronunciations and British folk speech is also divided regionally, with heard in the eastern counties and in the central and western ones. Both pronunciations were brought to the colonies, where the present U.S. pattern emerged.

Other Word Forms

• greasily adverb
• greasiness noun
• nongreasy adjective
• overgreasiness noun
• overgreasy adjective
• ungreasy adjective

Etymology

Origin of greasy

First recorded in 1505–15

Example Sentences

The movie purports to dip into the deep well of Shakespearean magnificence but emerges only with a ladle full of greasy schmaltz.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many users stay away from greasy, creamy and sweet foods because they can exacerbate side effects such as nausea.

From The Wall Street Journal

In damp, greasy conditions, Britain's Russell saved his best lap for last, clocking a time of one minute 34.054 seconds to pip reigning Formula One world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.227secs.

From Barron's

The A91 exit was said to be a long-known "greasy corner" and another driver gave evidence of starting to slide there only a few hours earlier.

From BBC

Sometimes I’d eat these meals without a plate, pouring the cereal into a red plastic cup, or eating off a ripped piece of the greasy pizza box big enough to balance my extra slice.

From Salon

Related Words

• creamy
• fatty
• slick