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.
oil color.
oil painting.
Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery.
an oilskin garment.
Australianand New ZealandSlang. 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.
Idioms for oil
pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.
strike oil,
to discover oil, especially to bring in a well.
to have good luck, especially financially; make an important and valuable discovery: They struck oil only after years of market research.
Origin of oil
1125–75; Middle English olie, oile<Old French <Latin oleum, olīvum (olive) oil <*oleivum (cf. Deus) <dialectal Greek *élaiwon (Attic élaion), derivative of *elaíwāolive
You can—this heap has got the legs of a centipede and you've got plenty of gas and oil.
Triplanetary|Edward Elmer Smith
He then treated the second bird in the same manner, and assisted his lady-love to consume it, as well as the remainder of the oil.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Be kind enough to add to the tunic, gilt sandals, and a vial of oil to anoint my beard and hair.
Thais|Anatole France
British Dictionary definitions for 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 chemicalsSee also essential oil, fixed oil
another name for petroleum
(as modifier)an oil engine; an oil rig
Also called: lubricating oilany of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
(in combination)an oilcan; an oilstone
(as modifier)an oil pump
Also called: fuel oila petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc
British
paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
(as modifier)an oil lamp; an oil stove
any substance of a consistency resembling that of oiloil of vitriol
the solvent, usually linseed oil, with which pigments are mixed to make artists' paints
(often plural)oil colour or paint
(as modifier)an oil painting
an oil painting
the good oilorthe dinkum oilAustralian and NZslangfacts or news
strike oil
to discover petroleum while drilling for it
informalto become very rich or successful
verb(tr)
to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance
informalto bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm)
oil the wheelsto make things run smoothly
See well-oiled
Derived forms of oil
oil-like, adjective
Word Origin for oil
C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaiaolive
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.
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 oilmineral oilpetroleum.