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volatile oil

American  

noun

  1. a distilled oil, especially one obtained from plant tissue, as distinguished from glyceride oils by their volatility and failure to saponify.


volatile oil British  

noun

  1. another name for essential oil

"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

Etymology

Origin of volatile oil

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"People are recognising they want energy independence - they don't want to be in the hands of a volatile oil and gas market."

From BBC Apr. 24, 2026

Governments from the U.K. to South Korea have vowed in recent weeks to deploy more clean energy to reduce their exposure to volatile oil and gas prices.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 9, 2026

Setting the price will require aligning the complex array of economic and diplomatic forces that govern volatile oil markets.

From New York Times Sep. 16, 2022

Shedding the retail business would mean Suncor loses a stable cash-generating business to hedge against volatile oil prices, said Mike Archibald, vice-president and portfolio manager at AGF Investments, a Suncor investor.

From Reuters Aug. 11, 2022

The giant gum is rich in a peculiar volatile oil, and it supplies a splendid timber for shingles, palings, &c.

From Australian Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil by Willoughby, Howard

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