noun
oil
oyl
noun
1
A thick, greasy liquid, either from plants, animals, or petroleum, used for cooking, fuel, or lubrication.
"She fried the vegetables in olive oil."
"The price of oil rose sharply after the announcement."
verb
1
To apply oil to something, especially to lubricate it.
"He oiled the squeaky hinge on the gate."
How to Use Oil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA greasy liquid used for cooking, fuel, or keeping machine parts moving smoothly.
Common pairings
cooking oil
crude oil
oil a hinge
olive oil
Word Forms
oiled past tense, oils plural, Oils plural, oils singular
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Etymology
From Old French olie, ultimately from Latin oleum, "olive oil" — from the Greek word for "olive".