oil

American  

[oil] / ɔɪl /

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.

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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.

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.

oil British  

/ 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 called: lubricating 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 called: fuel 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. slang facts or news

11. 1. to discover petroleum while drilling for it

    2. informal to become very rich or successful

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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. to make things run smoothly

4. See well-oiled

oil Scientific  

/ 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 mineral oil petroleum

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oil More Idioms  

1. 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).

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Other Word Forms

• oil-like adjective
• oilless adjective
• oillessness noun
• oillike adjective
• reoil verb
• self-oiling adjective
• unoiling adjective

Etymology

Origin of oil

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

Example Sentences

The blockade has already kept about half a billion barrels of oil from the market and pushed up prices by around 40%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Randy remembers selling Chryslers in the 1970s when the brand was in the midst of its first modern existential threat: the oil crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Since 27 January, no crude oil from Russia has reached Hungary via Ukraine through the Druzhba pipeline, which translates as the "Friendship pipeline".

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

And most ships carrying Iranian oil did not specify their destination on their transponder.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

As I step into Hut 11, I’m hit with the smell of motor oil and a relentless metallic click-clack, click-clack.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• coat
• grease