oil

[ oil ]

/ ɔɪl /

noun

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.

Australian and New Zealand Slang. 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 *elaíwā olive

OTHER WORDS FROM oil

oil·less, adjective oil·less·ness, noun oil·like, adjective re·oil, verb

self-oil·ing, adjective un·oil·ing, adjective

Words nearby oil

oic, oicel, oidiomycin, oidium, oik, oil, oil and water don't mix, oil beetle, oil burner, oil cake, oil city

British Dictionary definitions for pour oil on troubled waters

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 chemicals See also essential oil, fixed oil

another name for petroleum
(as modifier)an oil engine; an oil rig

Also called: lubricating oil any 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 oil a 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 oil oil 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 oil or the dinkum oil Australian and NZ slang facts or news

strike oil

to discover petroleum while drilling for it
informal to become very rich or successful

verb (tr)

to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance

informal to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm)

oil the wheels to 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 elaia olive

Medical definitions for pour oil on troubled waters

oil

[ oil ]

n.

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.

Scientific definitions for pour oil on troubled waters

oil

[ oil ]

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 oil mineral oil petroleum.

Cultural definitions for pour oil on troubled waters

pour oil on troubled waters

To calm a disturbance: “His ideas caused real dissension within the party at first, but he poured oil on troubled waters in last night's speech.”

notes for pour oil on troubled waters

In ancient times, oil was often poured on ocean waves to calm turbulence, a practice that would be denounced today.

Idioms and Phrases with pour oil on troubled waters (1 of 2)

pour oil on troubled waters

Soothe or calm down something or someone, as in The twins are quarreling so I'd best go pour oil on troubled waters. This term alludes to an ancient practice of pouring oil on ocean waves to calm their turbulence, which was mentioned in the eighth century. [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with pour oil on troubled waters (2 of 2)

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).

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

oil