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Dictionary Definition of oils
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oil noun 1. any of a large class of hydrocarbons or esters typically unctuous, viscous, combustible, liquid at ordinary temperatures, and soluble in ether and other organic solvents, but not in water, which are used for anointing, perfuming, lubricating, illuminating, heating, etc. 2. ® petroleum (def. 1). 3. some substance of oily consistency. 4. Painting a. an oil colour. b. an oil painting. 5. Colloquial flattery; bribery. -- verb (t) 6. to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil. 7. to bribe. 8. to make unctuous or smooth, as in speech. 9. to convert (butter, etc.) into oil by melting. -- adjective 10. relating to or resembling oil. 11. concerned with the production or use of oil. 12. obtained from oil. 13. using oil, especially as a fuel. -- phrase 14. burn the midnight oil, to stay up late at night to study, work, etc. 15. oil up, to give information to; advise. 16. pour oil on troubled waters, to reconcile people who might otherwise have had a clash of interests, points of view, etc. 17. the good oil ; the dinkum oil, correct (and usually profitable) information, often to be used in confidence; the drum. 18. the oil, NZ Colloquial an excellent person or thing. [ME olie, oile, from OF, from L oleum (olive) oil] |
