[oil] 
| 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.
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| 5. | Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery. |
| 6. | an oilskin garment. |
| 7. | Australian and New Zealand Slang. facts or news; information: good oil. |
| 8. | to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil. |
| 9. | to bribe. |
| 10. | to make unctuous or smooth: to oil his words. |
| 11. | to convert into oil by melting, as butter. |
| 12. | pertaining to or resembling oil. |
| 13. | using oil, esp. as a fuel: an oil furnace. |
| 14. | concerned with the production or use of oil: an offshore oil rig. |
| 15. | made with oil. |
| 16. | obtained from oil. |
| 17. | pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument. |
| 18. | strike oil,
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To calm a disturbance: “His ideas caused real dissension within the party at first, but he poured oil on troubled waters in last night's speech.”
Note: In ancient times, oil was often poured on ocean waves to calm turbulence, a practice that would be denounced today.
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. |
pour oil on troubled waters
Soothe or calm down something or someone, as in The twins are quarreling so I'd best go pour oil on troubled waters. This term alludes to an ancient practice of pouring oil on ocean waves to calm their turbulence, which was mentioned in the eighth century. [Mid-1800s]
