oily

American  

[oi-lee] / ˈɔɪ li /

adjective

oilier, oiliest

1. smeared or covered with oil; greasy.

   an oily road surface.

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

3. of or relating to oil.

4. full of or containing oil.

5. smooth or unctuous, as in manner or speech.

   an oily hypocrite.

   Synonyms:

   smarmy

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adverb

1. in an oily manner.

oily British  

/ ˈɔɪlɪ /

adjective

1. soaked in or smeared with oil or grease

2. consisting of, containing, or resembling oil

3. flatteringly servile or obsequious

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Other Word Forms

• nonoily adjective
• oilily adverb
• oiliness noun
• unoily adjective

Etymology

Origin of oily

First recorded in 1520–30; oil + -y ¹

Example Sentences

When it comes to helping players' recovery, oily fish, nuts and seeds are top of the menu.

From BBC

These targets can be achieved by eating more oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, or through supplementation where needed.

From Science Daily

They expect to begin reporting recovery totals Thursday morning, though those numbers will likely reflect an “oily water mixture,” not pure crude.

From Los Angeles Times

A massive wall of slick, oily scales bursts out of the water.

From Literature

Flames spread through the floating rubble and across the oily surface of the water.

From Literature

Related Words

• buttery
• creamy
• oiled
• slippery
• waxy