oiler

noun

oil·​er ˈȯi-lər How to pronounce oiler (audio)
1
: a person who oils something
2
: a receptacle or device for applying oil
3
oilers plural : oilskin sense 3
4
: an auxiliary naval vessel used for refueling at sea

Examples of oiler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Saturday’s successful launch also was a relief for the Navy, which needs new oilers to serve carrier strike groups like the two that are now in the eastern Mediterranean, pressuring Iran and Hezbollah to stay of the war between Israel and Hamas. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2023 The oiler, which cost upwards of $700 million, was supposed to slide down the ways at General Dynamics-NASSCO as soon as Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the senator’s eldest daughter, cracked a bottle of bubbly against the bow. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2023 The decision was announced last week by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, maintaining the Navy’s practice of naming John Lewis-class fleet oilers after civil rights leaders and social activists. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023 Her name will go on a 742-foot Navy oiler ship that General Dynamics-NASSCO will begin building on San Diego Bay in late 2025. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023 The eight new front-line ships the White House included in its original budget proposal include one Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, two Virginia-class submarines, a Constellation-class frigate, a John Lewis-class oiler, two Navajo-class oceangoing tugs and a new surveillance ship. David Axe, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021 Prior to Tuesday, the yard had built, started or won contracts to build eight Lewis-class oilers. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2023 But guys especially need to show their complexions some extra TLC because male skin tends to be thicker, oiler, and have more prominent pores than female skin. Garrett Munce, townandcountrymag.com, 5 May 2023 The modern Navy’s Henry J. Kaiser class fleet oilers, by contrast, are 50 percent bigger, displace twice as much fully loaded, but have a crew of just 89. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oiler.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oiler was circa 1846

Dictionary Entries Near oiler

Cite this Entry

“Oiler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oiler. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oiler

noun
oil·​er ˈȯi-lər How to pronounce oiler (audio)
1
: a person (as a worker) who oils something
2
: a device for applying oil
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