oil

[ oil ]

/ ɔɪl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: oil / oiled / oiler / oiling on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

a substance of this or similar consistency.

refined or crude petroleum.

Painting.

Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery.

an oilskin garment.

Australian and New Zealand Slang. facts or news; information: good oil.

verb (used with object)

to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil.

to bribe.

to make unctuous or smooth: to oil his words.

to convert into oil by melting, as butter.

adjective

pertaining to or resembling oil.

using oil, especially as a fuel: an oil furnace.

concerned with the production or use of oil: an offshore oil rig.

made with oil.

obtained from oil.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about oil

pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.

strike oil,

to discover oil, especially to bring in a well.
to have good luck, especially financially; make an important and valuable discovery: They struck oil only after years of market research.

Origin of oil

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

OTHER WORDS FROM oil

oilless, adjectiveoil·less·ness, nounoillike, adjectivere·oil, verb

self-oiling, adjectiveun·oil·ing, adjective

Words nearby oil

OIC, -oid, -oidea, oidium, oik, oil, Oil and water don't mix, oil beetle, oilbird, oil burner, oil cake

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

How to use oil in a sentence

Do be cautious, as a splatter of oil or a little too much sugar so close to the heating element can go up in flames — in which case it’s time to turn off the broiler and open a few windows.
Don’t Fear the Broiler|Elazar Sontag|February 11, 2021|Eater
In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering.
Chili-tinged sweet potatoes are loaded in all the right ways - flavor, nutrition and satisfaction|Ellie Krieger|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
When it did, I’d rub its skin with salt, cracked spices, plenty of oil, and lemon zest.
Love, Loneliness, and the Chicken in My Freezer|Elazar Sontag|February 9, 2021|Eater
The last time the price of oil was this high, the US was about to confirm its first Covid-19 case.
The price of oil is back to pre-pandemic levels|Tim McDonnell|February 8, 2021|Quartz

When the time comes to hop back on the saddle, all the necessary moving parts are already tuned and oiled.
Why you never forget how to ride a bike|Hannah Seo|February 8, 2021|Popular-Science
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
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
A very small amount may be present after ingestion of large quantities of cod-liver oil or other fats.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Go carefully over the film with an oil-immersion lens, using a mechanical stage if available.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The unindustrious pupil imagines that “p” represents 8, and not “f” or “v,” and translates 1845 into “To pour oil” .
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)

British Dictionary definitions for oil

oil

/ (ɔɪl) /

noun

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 chemicalsSee also essential oil, fixed oil

another name for petroleum
(as modifier)an oil engine; an oil rig

Also called: lubricating oil any of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
(in combination)an oilcan; an oilstone
(as modifier)an oil pump

Also called: fuel oil a petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc

British

paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
(as modifier)an oil lamp; an oil stove

any substance of a consistency resembling that of oiloil of vitriol

the solvent, usually linseed oil, with which pigments are mixed to make artists' paints

(often plural) oil colour or paint
(as modifier)an oil painting

an oil painting

the good oil or the dinkum oil Australian and NZ slang facts or news

strike oil

to discover petroleum while drilling for it
informal to become very rich or successful

verb (tr)

to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance

informal to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm)

oil the wheels to make things run smoothly

See well-oiled

Derived forms of oil

oil-like, adjective

Word Origin for oil

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

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

Scientific definitions for oil

oil

[ oil ]

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. See essential oil mineral oil petroleum.

Other Idioms and Phrases with oil

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).

oil

Idioms about oil

Origin of oil

OTHER WORDS FROM oil

Words nearby oil

Words related to oil

How to use oil in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for oil

Derived forms of oil

Word Origin for oil

Scientific definitions for oil

Other Idioms and Phrases with oil