51Թ

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oil

[ oil ]

noun

  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.
  5. Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery.
  6. an oilskin garment.
  7. Australian and New Zealand Slang. facts or news; information:

    good oil.



verb (used with object)

  1. to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil.
  2. to bribe.
  3. to make unctuous or smooth:

    to oil his words.

  4. to convert into oil by melting, as butter.

adjective

  1. pertaining to or resembling oil.
  2. using oil, especially as a fuel:

    an oil furnace.

  3. concerned with the production or use of oil:

    an offshore oil rig.

  4. made with oil.
  5. obtained from oil.

oil

/ ɔɪ /

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
    1. another name for petroleum
    2. ( as modifier )

      an oil engine

      an oil rig

    1. Also calledlubricating oil any of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
    2. ( in combination )

      an oilcan

      an oilstone

    3. ( as modifier )

      an oil pump

  2. Also calledfuel oil a petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc
    1. paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
    2. ( as modifier )

      an oil lamp

      an oil stove

  3. any substance of a consistency resembling that of oil

    oil of vitriol

  4. the solvent, usually linseed oil, with which pigments are mixed to make artists' paints
    1. often plural oil colour or paint
    2. ( as modifier )

      an oil painting

  5. an oil painting
  6. the good oil or the dinkum oil slang.
    facts or news
  7. strike oil
    1. to discover petroleum while drilling for it
    2. to become very rich or successful
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance
  2. informal.
    to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm )
  3. oil the wheels
    to make things run smoothly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

oil

/ oil /

  1. 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.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈǾ-ˌ, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • Ǿl adjective
  • Ǿl·ness noun
  • Ǿl adjective
  • ·Ǿ verb
  • -ǾiԲ adjective
  • ܲ·ǾiԲ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of oil1

1125–75; Middle English olie, oile < Old French < Latin oleum, olīvum (olive) oil < *oleivum ( Deus ) < dialectal Greek *éɴDz ( Attic éDz ), derivative of olive
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of oil1

C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaia olive
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.
  2. strike oil,
    1. to discover oil, especially to bring in a well.
    2. to have good luck, especially financially; make an important and valuable discovery:

      They struck oil only after years of market research.

More idioms and phrases containing oil

see banana oil ; burn the midnight oil ; grease (oil) someone's palm ; grease (oil) the wheels ; pour oil on troubled waters ; strike it rich (oil) .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Since 2000, certain African countries had duty-free access to the US market for a raft of goods including clothing and textiles, cocoa products and wine, as well as crude oil.

From

Combs’ close circle was allegedly involved in hiring sex workers, transporting them to the events, and supplying hotel rooms during the gatherings with items such as cash and baby oil.

From

Prices of shelf staples like olive oil, which is primarily imported from Italy, Spain and Greece, could rise further.

From

Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of up to 50% on Russian oil exports if Russia was found to be dragging its heels on a Ukraine peace deal.

From

According to the most recent official trade figures, 61% of oil imported into the US between January and November 2024 came from Canada.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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