oily

[oi-lee]

adjective, oil·i·er, oil·i·est.

smeared or covered with oil; greasy: an oily road surface.

of the nature of, consisting of, or resembling oil.

of or relating to oil.

full of or containing oil.

smooth or unctuous, as in manner or speech: an oily hypocrite.

adverb

in an oily manner.

Origin of oily

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y¹

Related formsoil·i·ness, nounnon·oil·y, adjectiveun·oil·y, adjective

Synonyms for oily

5. fawning, smarmy, bootlicking.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oiliness

Historical Examples of oiliness

Surely, he thought, there was a suggestion of oiliness about it, and—then in a moment he knew.
A Chinese Command
Harry Collingwood
His manner was cordial to the point of oiliness, yet cold and insincere.
I Walked in Arden
Jack Crawford
The seeds, however, are oily, and this oiliness preserves them.
Wildflowers of the Farm
Arthur Owens Cooke
Carefully take off the skin, as its oiliness will give the fish a strong and disagreeable taste when cooked.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Very refreshing in warm weather and an excellent remedy for oiliness of the skin.
The Golden Age Cook Book
Henrietta Latham Dwight

British Dictionary definitions for oiliness

oily

adjective oilier or oiliest

soaked in or smeared with oil or grease

consisting of, containing, or resembling oil

flatteringly servile or obsequious

Derived Formsoilily, adverboiliness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for oiliness

oily

adj.

1520s, from oil (n.) + -y (2). Figurative meaning "smooth, unctuous" is from 1590s. Related: Oiliness.