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. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): liquid paraffin. a colourless almost tasteless oily liquid obtained by petroleum distillation and used as a laxative

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