oil

1 of 2

noun

ˈȯi(-ə)l 

often attributive

1

a

: any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth

b(1)

: petroleum

(2)

: the petroleum industry

2

: a substance (such as a cosmetic preparation) of oily consistency

bath oil

3

a

: an oil color used by an artist

b

: a painting done in oil colors

4

: unctuous or flattering speech

oil

2 of 2

verb

oiled; oiling; oils

transitive verb

: to smear, rub over, furnish, or lubricate with oil

intransitive verb

: to take on fuel oil

Phrases

oil the hand or oil the palm

: bribe, tip

Synonyms

Noun

• canvas
• canvass
• oil painting
• painting

Verb

• grease
• lubricate
• slick
• wax

Examples of oil in a Sentence

Noun

The price of crude oil is expected to rise.

We heat our house with oil.

A little bit of oil will help lubricate the chain.

Add a little oil to the pan and stir-fry the onions.

The dressing is made with oil, vinegar, and a pinch of herbs.

Verb

He oiled the bearings of the machine.

if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The loss to the economy is like if all oil prices doubled. —ABC News, 6 Apr. 2025

In the rubble of Thursday and Friday’s market, there were two possible bright spots: plummeting oil prices and sinking bond yields. —Kevin Stankiewicz,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025

Verb

Another common claim is that the seed oils’ high omega-6 and low omega-3 composition causes an imbalance that may increase the risk of chronic conditions by boosting inflammation in the body. —Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025

After washing and drying, experts recommend oiling a wood cutting board to prevent drying and splitting. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English oile, from Anglo-French, from Latin oleum olive oil, from Greek elaion, from elaia olive

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing oil

• arachis oil
• a/the squeaky wheel gets the grease/oil
• baby oil
• banana oil
• burn the midnight oil
• cade oil
• canola oil
• castor oil
• castor-oil plant
• coal oil
• coconut oil
• cod-liver oil
• corn oil
• cottonseed oil
• croton oil
• drying oil
• essential oil
• fish oil
• fixed oil
• fuel oil
• fusel oil
• gas oil
• holy oil
• linseed oil
• mineral oil
• neat's-foot oil
• neroli oil
• nondrying oil
• non-oil
• no oil painting
• oil beetle
• oil cake
• oil change
• oil color
• oil field
• oil gland
• oil lamp
• oil of vitriol
• oil of wintergreen
• oil paint
• oil painting
• oil palm
• oil pan
• oil patch
• oil platform
• oil rig
• oil shale
• oil slick
• oil tanker
• oil the hand
• oil the palm
• oil well
• olive oil
• palm oil
• peanut oil
• pour oil on troubled waters
• rapeseed oil
• re-oil
• residual oil
• rock oil
• rose oil
• safflower oil
• salad oil
• sandalwood oil
• sesame oil
• shale oil
• snake oil
• soya oil
• soybean oil
• sperm oil
• stand oil
• tall oil
• train oil
• tropical oil
• tung oil
• vegetable oil
• volatile oil
• white oil

Rhymes for oil

• boil
• broil
• coil
• foil
• roil
• soil
• spoil
• toil
• voile
• aerofoil
• cinquefoil
• hydrofoil

Kids Definition

oil

1 of 2 noun

ˈȯi(ə)l 

1

a

: any of numerous greasy flammable usually liquid substances from plant, animal, or mineral sources that do not dissolve in water and are used especially as lubricants, fuels, and food

b

: petroleum

2

: something (as a cosmetic) like oil or containing an oil

bath oil

suntan oil

3

a

: artist's paints made of pigments and oil

b

: a painting done in oils

oil

2 of 2 verb

: to put oil in or on

Medical Definition

oil

noun

ˈȯi(ə)l 

1

: any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth see essential oil, fatty oil, volatile oil

2

: a substance (as a cosmetic preparation) of oily consistency

bath oil

oil adjective