oil
1 of 2noun
ˈȯi(-ə)l 
often attributive
1
a
: any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth
b(1)
: petroleum
(2)
: the petroleum industry
2
: a substance (such as a cosmetic preparation) of oily consistency
bath oil
3
a
: an oil color used by an artist
b
: a painting done in oil colors
4
: unctuous or flattering speech
oil
2 of 2verb
oiled; oiling; oils
transitive verb
: to smear, rub over, furnish, or lubricate with oil
intransitive verb
: to take on fuel oil
Synonyms
Noun
- canvas
- canvass
- oil painting
- painting
Verb
- grease
- lubricate
- slick
- wax
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The price of crude oil is expected to rise. We heat our house with oil. A little bit of oil will help lubricate the chain. Add a little oil to the pan and stir-fry the onions. The dressing is made with oil, vinegar, and a pinch of herbs. Verb He oiled the bearings of the machine. if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently See More
Recent Examples on the Web
David L. Stern, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023 This under-desk treadmill has a max speed of 7.6 mph and comes already lubricated, but includes additional oil. —Ellen Mcalpine, Women's Health, 4 Feb. 2023 It is made from Canola oil and can be used in the upcoming weeks as a dormant spray to control both wintering insects and disease spores from the previous season. —Chris Mckeown, The Enquirer, 4 Feb. 2023 Using full fat dairy, extra oil when cooking, addition of nut butters, and more frequent meals for kids are examples of helping promote weight gain for kids. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 4 Feb. 2023 The next phase, targeting oil products such as diesel and jet fuel, could bring fresh snags for buyers and fat profits for refiners. —Carol Ryan, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2023 Brittle nails are prone to chipping and breaking, and experts say that cuticle oil is key to maintaining healthy nails. —Annie Blay, Allure, 4 Feb. 2023 Benson and Davis — the 43-year-old grandson of oil tycoon Marvin Davis — have also been seen together, sitting courtside at a basketball game as well as attending a friend's birthday party. —Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 ADEM External Affairs Chief Lynn Battle said there is no connection between the oil business and the landfill fire. —Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 3 Feb. 2023 Brian Lowry, CNN, 9 Feb. 2023 Lightly oil your grill or pan and heat to medium-high. —Mei Lin, Robb Report, 6 July 2021 Lightly oil a skillet and cook dough on medium heat until light tan spots appear on the side of the dough in contact with the skillet. —Andre Toran, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2021 Lightly oil the grate of the grill to prevent your salmon from sticking. —Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 5 Mar. 2021 Employees at the Ithaca location, located near the Cornell University campus, in April voted to unionize and mounted a one-day strike, saying an overflowing grease trap had spilled wastewater and oil onto the floor, making the store unsafe. —Josh Eidelson, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 While the fire is getting hot, assemble a cake mix in a bowl and oil a cast-iron Dutch oven liberally. —Outside Online, 2 Aug. 2021 For the Coating: 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Generously flour a clean work surface and lightly oil a medium-size bowl. —Katie Workman, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2022 Employees at the Ithaca location, located near the Cornell University campus, in April voted to unionize and mounted a one-day strike, saying an overflowing grease trap had spilled wastewater and oil onto the floor, making the store unsafe. —Josh Eidelson, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 See More
Noun
The goal of the price cap plan, which was pitched by Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, is to limit how much Moscow can earn from oil diverted elsewhere in the world without disrupting global supply. —David L. Stern, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023 This under-desk treadmill has a max speed of 7.6 mph and comes already lubricated, but includes additional oil. —Ellen Mcalpine, Women's Health, 4 Feb. 2023 It is made from Canola oil and can be used in the upcoming weeks as a dormant spray to control both wintering insects and disease spores from the previous season. —Chris Mckeown, The Enquirer, 4 Feb. 2023 Using full fat dairy, extra oil when cooking, addition of nut butters, and more frequent meals for kids are examples of helping promote weight gain for kids. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 4 Feb. 2023 The next phase, targeting oil products such as diesel and jet fuel, could bring fresh snags for buyers and fat profits for refiners. —Carol Ryan, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2023 Brittle nails are prone to chipping and breaking, and experts say that cuticle oil is key to maintaining healthy nails. —Annie Blay, Allure, 4 Feb. 2023 Benson and Davis — the 43-year-old grandson of oil tycoon Marvin Davis — have also been seen together, sitting courtside at a basketball game as well as attending a friend's birthday party. —Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 ADEM External Affairs Chief Lynn Battle said there is no connection between the oil business and the landfill fire. —Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 3 Feb. 2023 Verb
Even if Tatum chooses to hang up his briefs, this won’t be a particularly difficult franchise to oil up and revisit. —Brian Lowry, CNN, 9 Feb. 2023 Lightly oil your grill or pan and heat to medium-high. —Mei Lin, Robb Report, 6 July 2021 Lightly oil a skillet and cook dough on medium heat until light tan spots appear on the side of the dough in contact with the skillet. —Andre Toran, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2021 Lightly oil the grate of the grill to prevent your salmon from sticking. —Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 5 Mar. 2021 Employees at the Ithaca location, located near the Cornell University campus, in April voted to unionize and mounted a one-day strike, saying an overflowing grease trap had spilled wastewater and oil onto the floor, making the store unsafe. —Josh Eidelson, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 While the fire is getting hot, assemble a cake mix in a bowl and oil a cast-iron Dutch oven liberally. —Outside Online, 2 Aug. 2021 For the Coating: 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Generously flour a clean work surface and lightly oil a medium-size bowl. —Katie Workman, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2022 Employees at the Ithaca location, located near the Cornell University campus, in April voted to unionize and mounted a one-day strike, saying an overflowing grease trap had spilled wastewater and oil onto the floor, making the store unsafe. —Josh Eidelson, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English oile, from Anglo-French, from Latin oleum olive oil, from Greek elaion, from elaia olive
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing oil
Kids Definition
oil
1 of 2 noun ˈȯi(ə)l
1
a
: any of numerous greasy flammable usually liquid substances from plant, animal, or mineral sources that do not dissolve in water and are used especially as lubricants, fuels, and food
b
: petroleum
2
: something (as a cosmetic) like oil or containing an oil
bath oil
suntan oil
3
a
: artist's paints made of pigments and oil
b
: a painting done in oils
oil
2 of 2 verb : to put oil in or on
Medical Definition
oil
noun ˈȯi(ə)l
1
: any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth see essential oil, fatty oil, volatile oil
2
: a substance (as a cosmetic preparation) of oily consistency
bath oil
oil adjective
oiling
verb
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- greasing
- lubricating
- slicking
- washing
- waxing
- wetting
- bathing
- soaking
- watering
- drenching
- dousing
- dowsing
- sousing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- roughening
- drying
- roughing
- dehydrating
- parching
- coarsening
- searing