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

Backtrack a few years, though and he was head of Cargill’s refined oils trading operation in the Western hemisphere — with the additional responsibility of managing the company’s commodity business in Venezuela.

From MarketWatch

On Tuesday, he announced, in a social media post, of course, that he was taking control of the proceeds from up to 50 barrels of Venezuelan oil.

From Los Angeles Times

And yet now whales that were once hunted for their oil are falling victim to the effects of the petroleum or “rock oil” that replaced their melted blubber as a source of light and lubrication.

From Los Angeles Times

Redeveloping Venezuela’s broken-down oil infrastructure will cost tens of billions of dollars at least, and companies likely want assurances their investments will be worth it long-term.

From Barron's

This compares with 1.83 million barrels of oil equivalent a day it produced in the third quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• coat
• grease