oil

[oil]

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.

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.

oil

/ 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

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

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

Other Word Forms

• oilless adjective
• oillessness noun
• oillike adjective
• reoil verb
• self-oiling adjective
• unoiling adjective
• oil-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil¹

1125–75; Middle English olie, oile < Old French < Latin oleum, olīvum (olive) oil < *oleivum ( Deus ) < dialectal Greek *élaiwon ( Attic élaion ), derivative of *elaíwā olive

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil¹

C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaia _olive

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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).

Example Sentences

Hey is British and spent his childhood training with the Royal Air Force before relocating to Santa Barbara after a career in the oil industry.

From Los Angeles Times

McLaren have traced the engine failure in last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix that dented Norris' title hopes to a broken oil line - a McLaren issue rather than a problem with the Mercedes engine.

From BBC

The oil company Shell has submitted a fresh environmental impact assessment for the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.

From BBC

The White House imposed a 25% levy as a penalty for buying Moscow's oil, on top of a 25% tariff on Indian goods - a move Delhi called "unreasonable".

From BBC

In March 2025, he said his Milan show aimed to pour oil on the troubled waters of global politics.

From BBC

Related Words

• coat 
• grease