| to flee; abscond: |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
oil (ɔɪl) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | essential oil See also fixed oil 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 |
| 2. | a. another name for petroleum |
| b. (as modifier): an oil engine; an oil rig | |
| 3. | a. Also called: lubricating oil any of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication |
| b. (in combination): an oilcan; an oilstone | |
| c. (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. | (Brit) |
| a. paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel | |
| b. (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. | a. (often plural) oil colour or paint |
| b. (as modifier): an oil painting | |
| 9. | an oil painting |
| 10. | slang (Austral), (NZ) the good oil, the dinkum oil facts or news |
| 11. | strike oil |
| a. to discover petroleum while drilling for it | |
| b. informal to become very rich or successful | |
| —vb | |
| 12. | to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance |
| 13. | informal to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm) |
| 14. | oil the wheels to make things run smoothly |
| 15. | See well-oiled |
| [C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaia | |
| 'oil-like | |
| —adj | |
oil (oil)
n.
Any of numerous mineral, vegetable, and synthetic substances and animal and vegetable fats that are generally slippery, combustible, viscous, liquid or liquefiable at room temperatures, soluble in various organic solvents such as ether but not in water, and used in a great variety of products, especially lubricants and fuels.
| oil (oil) Pronunciation Key
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, mineral oil, petroleum. |
Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (Ex. 25:6; 27:20; Matt. 25:3); for medicinal purposes (Isa. 1:6; Luke 10:34; James 5:14); and for anointing the dead (Matt. 26:12; Luke 23:56). It was one of the most valuable products of the country (Deut. 32:13; Ezek. 16:13), and formed an article of extensive commerce with Tyre (27:17). The use of it was a sign of gladness (Ps. 92:10; Isa. 61:3), and its omission a token of sorrow (2 Sam. 14:2; Matt. 6:17). It was very abundant in Galilee. (See OLIVE.)
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).