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oil
[ oil ]
noun
- 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.
- a substance of this or similar consistency.
- refined or crude petroleum.
- Painting.
- Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery.
- an oilskin garment.
- Australian and New Zealand Slang. facts or news; information:
good oil.
verb (used with object)
- to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil.
- to bribe.
- to make unctuous or smooth:
to oil his words.
- to convert into oil by melting, as butter.
adjective
- pertaining to or resembling oil.
- using oil, especially as a fuel:
an oil furnace.
- concerned with the production or use of oil:
an offshore oil rig.
- made with oil.
- obtained from oil.
oil
/ ɔɪ /
noun
- 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
- another name for petroleum
- ( as modifier )
an oil engine
an oil rig
- Also calledlubricating oil any of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
- ( in combination )
an oilcan
an oilstone
- ( as modifier )
an oil pump
- Also calledfuel oil a petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc
- paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
- ( as modifier )
an oil lamp
an oil stove
- any substance of a consistency resembling that of oil
oil of vitriol
- the solvent, usually linseed oil, with which pigments are mixed to make artists' paints
- often plural oil colour or paint
- ( as modifier )
an oil painting
- an oil painting
- the good oil or the dinkum oil slang.facts or news
- strike oil
- to discover petroleum while drilling for it
- to become very rich or successful
verb
- to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance
- informal.to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm )
- oil the wheelsto make things run smoothly
- See well-oiled
oil
- 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.
- See essential oil
Derived Forms
- ˈǾ-ˌ, adjective
Other Word Forms
- Ǿl adjective
- Ǿl·ness noun
- Ǿl adjective
- ·Ǿ verb
- -ǾiԲ adjective
- ܲ·ǾiԲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of oil1
Idioms and Phrases
- pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.
- strike oil,
- to discover oil, especially to bring in a well.
- to have good luck, especially financially; make an important and valuable discovery:
They struck oil only after years of market research.
More idioms and phrases containing oil
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
This is more of a risk for imports that compete with US domestic production, such as oil, soybeans, copper, iron ore, gold, and lithium.
Every ingredient adds something essential: garlic for punch, cheese for salinity, herbs for color and base flavor, nuts for richness, oil for body.
The group's official line is that they've won their battle because their demand that there should be no new oil and gas licences is now government policy.
Other technology items used in the defence and energy sectors are among items which can also no longer be exported to Russia, including software used to search for new oil and gas wells.
By no means should tinned fish break your bank, but it’s important to buy brands that use higher-quality oils to preserve their fish.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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