View synonyms for oil

oil

[ oil ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.
1. oil color.
2. oil 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

/ ɔɪl /

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
1. another name for petroleum
2. ( as modifier )
  an oil engine
  an oil rig
1. Also calledlubricating 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
Also calledfuel oil a petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc
1. paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
2. ( 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
1. often plural oil colour or paint
2. ( as modifier )
  an oil painting
an oil painting
the good oil or the dinkum oil slang.
facts or news
strike oil
1. to discover petroleum while drilling for it
2. 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 wheels
to make things run smoothly
See well-oiled

oil

/ 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

Discover More

Derived Forms

ˈoil-ˌlike, adjective

Discover More

Other Word Forms

oilless adjective
oilless·ness noun
oillike adjective
re·oil verb
self-oiling adjective
un·oiling adjective

Discover More

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

Discover More

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

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.
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.

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) .

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But the two found common ground on energy, saying the country should ramp up its oil and gas production.

From BBC

In a visit to Inner Mongolia in 1992, the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who oversaw China's economic reform, famously said: "The Middle East has oil and China has rare earths".

From BBC

It comes after the Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi threw hot oil at officers and stabbed them with makeshift weapons at the prison on Saturday.

From BBC

He added that another side-effect of Trump's trade war is hitting global growth, which causes oil prices to fall, which will feed through to lower petrol prices here in the UK.

From BBC

“My staff is burning the midnight oil for a month now,” McGuire said.

From Los Angeles Times