oil
noun /ɔɪl/
/ɔɪl/
Idioms - [uncountable] a thick liquid that is found in rock underground synonym petroleum
- Several companies are drilling for oil in the region.
- The price of crude oil has more than doubled.
- rising world oil prices
- an oil spill
- The country is rich in oil reserves.
- oil and gas drilling/exploration
- oil refineries/pipelines
- oil companies
- the oil industry
- The well produced oil at a rate of 2 000 barrels of oil a day.
Wordfinder- energy
- fossil fuel
- fracking
- fuel
- hydroelectric
- nuclear
- oil
- power station
- solar
- wind farm
Extra ExamplesTopics The environmenta2- At the time, oil was trading at around $18 per barrel.
- The national economy is sustained by high oil revenues.
- Five companies account for about 70 per cent of the country's oil production.
- With a finite oil supply and ever-increasing demand, it's inevitable that oil will become more expensive.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- heavy
- light
- crude
- …
- barrel
- film
- drop
- …
- extract
- obtain
- produce
- …
- company
- producer
- man
- …
- [uncountable] a form of petroleum that is used as fuel and to make parts of machines move smoothly
- fuel oil
- engine oil
- an oil lamp/heater
- Put some oil in the car.
- Most people think about energy only when gas prices increase or when heating oil is in short supply.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- heavy
- light
- crude
- …
- barrel
- film
- drop
- …
- extract
- obtain
- produce
- …
- company
- producer
- man
- …
- [uncountable, countable] a smooth thick liquid that is made from plants or animals and is used in cooking
- Fry the potato in a little sunflower oil.
- palm/coconut/sesame oil
- Heat the frying pan and add cooking oil.
- Heat the oil gently and brown the mince.
- Vegetable oils are better for you than animal fats.
Extra ExamplesTopics Fooda2- A daily dose of omega-3 fish oil will help children to concentrate better.
- a bottle of extra virgin olive oil
- The traditional salad dressing is made of oil and vinegar.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- cooking
- hydrogenated
- polyunsaturated
- …
- heat
- cook something in
- fry something in
- …
- in oil
- [uncountable, countable] a smooth thick liquid that is made from plants, minerals, etc. and is used on the skin or hair
- lavender bath oil
- suntan oil
Extra ExamplesTopics Appearancea2- She rubbed a scented oil into her hair.
- The sick were anointed with oil.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- aromatic
- fragrant
- scented
- …
- massage
- rub
- massage something with
- …
- oil of
- [uncountable] (also oils [plural])coloured paint containing oil used by artists
- ‘Four Women on a Bench’, oil on canvas, 1991
- in oil a painting done in oils
- landscapes in oil
Collocations Fine artsFine artsCreating artsee also oil paintTopics Artc1- make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
- do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
- create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
- produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
- paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(US English) in watercolors/on canvas
- draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
- sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
- carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
- sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
- etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
- mix colours/(US English) colors/pigments/paints
- add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(US English) color/pigment
- use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
- work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
- paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
- depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
- create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
- paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
- use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
- develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
- commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of somebody/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint something
- frame a painting/portrait
- hang art/a picture/a painting
- display/exhibit modern art/somebody’s work/a collection/original artwork/drawings/sculptures/a piece/a painting
- be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
- install/place a sculpture in/at/on something
- erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
- hold/host/mount/open/curate/see an exhibition (especially British English)/(North American English usually) an exhibit
- be/go on (British English) exhibition/(North American English) exhibit
- feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
- collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
- restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art
- (also oil painting)[countable] a picture painted in oil paint
- Among the more important Turner oils was ‘Venus and Adonis’.
see also oily, castor oil, cod liver oil, linseed oil, snake oil
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old Northern French olie, Old French oile, from Latin oleum ‘(olive) oil’; compare with olea ‘olive’.
Idioms
burn the midnight oil
- to study or work until late at night
pour oil on troubled water(s)
- to try to settle an argumentTopics Discussion and agreementc2