ɔɪl n. & v. --n. 1
any of
various thick,
viscous, usu.
inflammable liquids
insoluble in
water but
soluble in
organic solvents (see
also essential oil, fixed oil,
mineral oil,
volatile oil). 2 US
petroleum. 3 (in comb.) using oil as
fuel (oil-heater). 4 a (usu. in pl.) = oil-paint. b colloq. a
picture painted in oil-paints. 5 (in pl.) =
OILSKIN. --v. 1 tr.
apply oil
to;
lubricate. 2 tr.
impregnate or
treat with oil (oiled silk). 3 tr. & intr. supply with or
take on oil as fuel. 4 tr. & intr.
make (butter,
grease, etc.)
into or (of
butter etc.)
become an
oily liquid. øoil-bird a
guacharo. oil drum a
metal drum used
for transporting oil. oiled
silk silk
made waterproof with oil. oil
engine an engine
driven by
the explosion of vaporized oil
mixed with
air. oil-fired using oil as fuel. oil a person's
hand (or palm)
bribe a
person. oil-lamp a
lamp using oil as fuel. oil-meal ground
oilcake. oil of
vitriol see VITRIOL. oil-paint (or -colour) a
mix of ground
colour pigment and oil. oil-painting 1 the art of
painting in oil-paints. 2 a picture painted in oil-paints. oil-palm
either of
two trees, Elaeis guineensis of W. Africa, or E. oleifera of the
US,
from which palm oil is extracted. oil-pan an engine
sump. oil-paper a
paper made
transparent or waterproof by soaking in oil. oil-press an
apparatus for
pressing oil from seeds etc. oil rig a
structure with
equipment for drilling an oil well. oil-sand a
stratum of
porous rock
yielding petroleum. oil-seed any of various seeds from cultivated crops yielding oil, e.g. rape,
peanut, or
cotton. oil-shale a fine-grained rock from which oil can be extracted. oil-slick a
smooth patch of oil,
esp.
one on the
sea. oil-tanker a
ship designed to
carry oil in
bulk. oil one's
tongue say flattering or
glib things. oil well a well from which mineral oil is
drawn. oil the wheels
help make things go smoothly. well oiled colloq.
very drunk. øøoilless adj. [ME oli, oile f.
AF, ONF olie = OF oile etc. f. L
oleum (olive) oil f. olea olive]