oil Definition

oil
noun

1. Any greasy, viscous and usually flammable substance, liquid at room temperature (20°C) and insoluble in water but soluble in organic compounds, that is derived from animals, plants or mineral deposits, or manufactured artificially, and used as a fuel, lubricant or food.

Thesaurus: grease, lubricant, fat, unction, fuel.
2. petroleum.
3a. oil paint;

Form: oils (often)
3b. An oil painting.
4. colloq
Oilskins; oilskin garments.
Form: oils
(Austral & NZ)
5. slang
News; information. Also as adj and in compounds.
Example: oil pipeline
Example: oil slick
Example: oilfield

verb oiled, oiling

1. To apply oil to something; to lubricate or treat something with oil.

Thesaurus: lubricate, grease, smear, coat, anoint.
intr
2. To take oil aboard as fuel.
tr & intr
3. Said of butter, etc: to make or become oily, especially by heating or melting.

Derivative: oiled

See separate entries.

Idiom: burn the midnight oil

To work or study late into the night.

Idiom: oil someone's palm

colloq
To bribe them.

Idiom: oil the wheels

To do something in order to make things go more smoothly or successfully, etc.

Idiom: pour oil on troubled waters

To soothe or calm a person or situation.

Idiom: strike oil

To discover or reach a source of petroleum while drilling for it.

colloq
To discover some source of wealth, usually rapid wealth; to become rich or successful through exploiting such a source.

Etymology: 12c: from French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from Greek elaia olive tree.