essential oil

Save This Word!

noun

any of a class of volatile oils obtained from plants, possessing the odor and other characteristic properties of the plant, used chiefly in the manufacture of perfumes, flavors, and pharmaceuticals.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of essential oil

First recorded in 1665–75

Words nearby essential oil

essentialism, essentialist, essentiality, essentialize, essentially, essential oil, essential pentosuria, essential pruritus, essential tachycardia, essential telangiectasia, esse quam videri

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use essential oil in a sentence

To make it as much of a pleasure as this dirty job can be, she uses homemade bathroom cleaner with lemon and lavender essential oils.
5 simple ways to get your home in order, from ‘Clean Mama’ Becky Rapinchuk|Lindsey Roberts|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
By infusing odor chemicals into tiny liquid droplets—think essential oils mixing with liquid in a humidifier—the chip could detect odors with unprecedented sensitivity.
Scientists Made a Biohybrid Nose Using Cells From Mosquitoes|Shelly Fan|January 26, 2021|Singularity Hub
It’s set apart by an essential oil tray, which sits below the water tank, allowing for easy access and refill, and it includes a remote control for toggling between mist temperatures, mist levels, night mode, and more.
The best humidifier: Fight dry air (and a dry nose) all winter long|PopSci Commerce Team|January 15, 2021|Popular-Science
Existing research suggests that various essential oils such as ginger, eucalyptus, peppermint, rose, and lavender may help reduce pain and anxiety.
To take the most relaxing bath ever, add some healthy tips|Rachel Feltman|January 3, 2021|Popular-Science

It usually involves smelling different odorants, such as essential oils, at least twice a day for 10 to 15 seconds at a time over the course of weeks.
When coffee smells like gasoline: Covid isn’t just stealing senses — it may be warping them|Allyson Chiu|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
The State Department found that with high oil prices, the tar sands would be mined for oil, pipeline or no.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Pulling oil from the tar sands is costly, even more so when you tack transportation costs on top.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The focus here was on how fast oil would come out of the Canadian fields.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Total oil production figures include crude oil, natural gas liquids, and other liquid energy products.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
On top of oil, the United States produces significantly more natural gas than Saudi Arabia.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In pursuing his alchemical researches, he discovered Prussian blue, and the animal oil which bears his name.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Water itself is of course essential to the growth of every plant, but the benefits of Irrigation reach far beyond this.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
As a rule, however, persistent glycosuria is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus, of which disease it is the essential symptom.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Such are most probably given by the essential oils, which vary in amount in different species of the plant.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Movement to know that she was attired in appropriate costume—short frock, biped continuations and a mannish oil-skin hat.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley

British Dictionary definitions for essential oil

essential oil

noun

any of various volatile organic oils present in plants, usually containing terpenes and esters and having the odour or flavour of the plant from which they are extracted: used in flavouring and perfumeryCompare fixed oil See also oleoresin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for essential oil

essential oil

A volatile oil, usually having the characteristic odor or flavor of the plant from which it is obtained, used to make perfumes and flavorings.

Scientific definitions for essential oil

essential oil

[ ĭ-sĕn′shəl ]

Any of various volatile liquids, such as rose oil or lavender oil, that have a characteristic odor and are produced by plants. Essential oils are composed primarily of terpenes and of lesser quantities of alcohols, aldehydes, esters, phenols, and other compounds that impart particular odors or flavors. They are used to make perfumes, soaps, flavorings, and other products.