oil slick

American  

noun

1. a smooth area on the surface of water caused by the presence of oil.

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oil slick British  

noun

1. a mass of floating oil covering an area of water, esp oil that has leaked or been discharged from a ship

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Etymology

Origin of oil slick

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Everyone hates regulation—until a plane crashes or an oil slick washes ashore.

From Barron's

It's a ripping off the bandage moment, which the Palace will hope will finally draw a line under the endless oil slick of bad news stories about Andrew.

From BBC

You want crunch and savor, not oil slick.

From Salon

"As the oil slick can reach anywhere along the Kerala coast, an alert has been sounded across the coastal belt," a statement from the chief minister's office said.

From BBC

A boom helps contain the worst of the oil slick, which has stained 30 miles of coastline.

From Los Angeles Times