Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense oils, present participle oiling, past tense, past participle oiled
1. variable noun
Oil is a smooth, thick liquid that is used as a fuel and for making the parts of machines move smoothly. Oil is found underground.
The company buys and sells about 600,000 barrels of oil a day.
...the rapid rise in prices for oil and petrol.
...a small oil lamp.
2. verb
If you oil something, you put oil onto or into it, for example to make it work smoothly or to protect it.
A crew of assistants oiled and adjusted the release mechanism until it worked perfectly. [VERB noun]
The leather may need to be oiled every two to three weeks in order to retain itssuppleness. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: lubricate, grease, make slippery More Synonyms of oil
3. variable noun [usually noun NOUN]
Oil is a smooth, thick liquid made from plants and is often used for cooking.
Combine the beans, chopped mint and olive oil in a large bowl.
Drop the slices into the oil and fry until golden brown.
4. variable noun
Oil is a smooth, thick liquid, often with a pleasant smell, that you rub into your skin or add to your bath.
Try a hot bath with some relaxing bath oil.
5. countable noun [usually plural]
Oils are oil paintings.
Her colourful oils and works on paper have a naive, dreamlike quality.
6. plural noun
When an artist paints in oils, he or she uses oil paints.
When she paints in oils she always uses the same range of colours.
7. See also castor oil, crude oil, olive oil
8.
See to pour oil on troubled waters
9.
See to oil the wheels
10. to burn the midnight oil
More Synonyms of oil
oil in British English
(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.
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. British
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. the good oil
11. strike oil
verb(transitive)
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
Derived forms
oil-like (ˈoil-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaiaolive
oil in American English
(ɔɪl)
noun
1.
any of various kinds of greasy, combustible substances obtained from animal, vegetable, and mineral sources: oils are liquid at ordinary temperatures and soluble in certain organic solvents, as ether, but not in water
2.
petroleum
3.
any of various substances having the consistency of oil
4.
a.
oil color
b.
oil painting
5. Informal
smooth, hypocritical flattery
verb transitive
6.
to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil
7.
to bribe
: chiefly in oil the palm (or hand) of
adjective
8.
of, from, like, or yielding oil, or having to do with the production or use of oil
Idioms:
pour oil on troubled waters
strike oil
Derived forms
oiled
adjective
Word origin
ME oile < OFr < L oleum, oil, olive oil < Gr elaion, (olive) oil, akin to elaia, olive
More idioms containing
oil
like oil and water
no oil painting
pour oil on troubled waters
strike oil
snake oil
oil the wheels
burn the midnight oil
COBUILD Collocations
oil
excess oil
Examples of 'oil' in a sentence
oil
His family owns an oil and wine company and a holiday homes business.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pour the oil into a bowl and reserve.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Spoon the paste into a bowl and add the oil.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The float is part of his plan to diversify the economy away from a reliance on oil and gas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The two oil majors were encouraged.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It caused the world's largest oil spill.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan over a medium heat.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They are just a floating storage system for traders and companies that are waiting for cheap crude oil prices to tick up before they sell.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Add a teaspoon of thyme oil or lavender oil to your bath.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
Yet palm oil is something of a miracle product.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Gradually whisk in the oil to make thick vinaigrette.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Serve drizzled with parsley oil and a bowl of mashed potatoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He finds what makes you tick then oils the mechanism.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Cut back on the oil and avoid adding cream.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They will be as good as the oil and vinegar in which they are kept.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
Oil company rivals may seek to buy it as a prelude to a bid.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
These tougher sanctions would cover oil and gas investment and the financial sector.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was a better day for oil and mining firms as investors sought safety in commodities.
The Sun (2008)
The rooms smell of buttery leather and oiled oak.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Households that use heating oil have to buy it upfront and in large quantities.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Burning a pound of fuel oil produces about twice as much energy as burning a pound of coal.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Slowly stir in 4 tbsp olive oil to make a thick but slack mixture.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
oil
British English: oil /ɔɪl/ NOUN
Oil is a smooth thick liquid used as a fuel and for lubricating machines. Oil is found underground.
The company buys and sells about 600,000 barrels of oil a day.
American English: oil
Arabic: نِفْطٌّ زيت
Brazilian Portuguese: óleo
Chinese: 油
Croatian: nafta
Czech: olej
Danish: olie
Dutch: olie
European Spanish: aceite
Finnish: öljy
French: huile
German: Öl
Greek: λάδι
Italian: petrolio
Japanese: 油
Korean: 기름
Norwegian: olje
Polish: olej
European Portuguese: óleo
Romanian: petrol
Russian: масло
Latin American Spanish: aceite
Swedish: olja
Thai: น้ำมัน
Turkish: yağ
Ukrainian: олія
Vietnamese: dầu
British English: oil /ɔɪl/ VERB
If you oil something, you put oil onto it or into it in order to make it work smoothly or to protect it.
A team of assistants oiled the machine.
American English: oil
Arabic: يُزِيِّتُ
Brazilian Portuguese: lubrificar
Chinese: 上油
Croatian: nauljiti
Czech: naolejovat
Danish: smøre
Dutch: oliën
European Spanish: lubricar
Finnish: öljytä
French: huiler
German: ölen
Greek: λαδώνω
Italian: lubrificare
Japanese: 油を差す 注油
Korean: 기름을 바르다
Norwegian: olje
Polish: naoliwić
European Portuguese: lubrificar
Romanian: a unge
Russian: смазывать
Latin American Spanish: lubricar
Swedish: smörja
Thai: ใส่น้ำมัน
Turkish: yağlamak
Ukrainian: змащувати
Vietnamese: bôi dầu
Chinese translation of 'oil'
oil
(ɔɪl)
n(c/u)
油 (yóu) (桶, tǒng)
vt
[engine, machine]给(給) ... 加油 (gěi ... jiāyóu)
[wood, skin]给(給) ... 涂(塗)油 (gěi ... túyóu)
All related terms of 'oil'
oil rig
( on land ) 石油钻(鑽)塔 shíyóu zuàntǎ [ 个(個) gè ]
oil well
油井 yóujǐng [ 个(個) gè ]
crude oil
原油 yuányóu
oil slick
浮油 fúyóu [ 层 céng ]
olive oil
橄榄(欖)油 gǎnlǎnyóu
oil filter
滤(濾)油器 lǜyóuqì [ 个(個) gè ]
oil tanker
( ship ) 油轮(輪) yóulún [ 艘 sōu ]
oil painting
( picture ) 油画(畫) yóuhuà [ 幅 fú ]
oil refinery
炼(煉)油厂(廠) liànyóuchǎng [ 家 jiā ]
to explore for oil
勘探石油 kāntàn shíyóu
a glut of oil/fruit
油/水果供应(應)过(過)剩 yóu/shuǐguǒ gōngyìng guòshèng
rig
oil rig 钻(鑽)井台(臺) zuànjǐngtái
diesel
[ u ] diesel oil 柴油 cháiyóu
his hands were smeared with oil/ink
他的手上沾满(滿)了油/墨水 tā de shǒu shang zhānmǎnle yóu/mòshuǐ
paraffin
paraffin oil 石蜡(蠟) shílà [ 美 = kerosene ]
the accident could have been caused by an oil leak
事故可能是由石油泄(洩)漏引起的 shìgù kěnéng shì yóu shíyóu xièlòu yǐnqǐ de
1 (noun)
Definition
a substance derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
Her car had run out of oil.
Synonyms
lubricant
industrial lubricants
grease
lubrication
fuel oil
2 (noun)
sun-tan oil
Synonyms
lotion
suntan lotion
cream
Gently apply the cream to the affected areas.
balm
The balm is very soothing.
salve
a soothing salve for sore, dry lips
liniment
embrocation
solution
(verb)
Definition
to lubricate with oil or apply oil to
A crew of assistants oiled the mechanism until it worked perfectly.
Synonyms
lubricate
Mineral oils are used to lubricate the machinery.
grease
make slippery
subject word lists
See Edible oilsSee Industrial oilsSee Oils used in perfume and medicine
Additional synonyms
in the sense of balm
Definition
an aromatic substance obtained from certain tropical trees and used for healing and soothing
The balm is very soothing.
Synonyms
ointment,
cream,
lotion,
salve,
emollient,
balsam,
liniment,
embrocation,
unguent,
cerate
in the sense of cream
Definition
a cosmetic or medication that resembles cream in consistency
Gently apply the cream to the affected areas.
Synonyms
lotion,
ointment,
oil,
essence,
cosmetic,
paste,
emulsion,
salve,
liniment,
unguent
in the sense of liniment
Definition
a medicated oily liquid applied to the skin to relieve pain or stiffness