oil

oil¹ W2S3 [ɔıl] n

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(fuel)¦

2¦(natural substance under the ground)¦

3¦(liquid from plants)¦

4¦(paint)¦

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[Date: 1100-1200; : Old French; Origin: oile, from Latin oleum 'olive oil', from Greek elaia 'olive']

1.) ¦(FUEL)¦[U]

a smooth thick liquid that is used to make machines run easily or is burned to produce heat

▪ Check the oil level in your car every week.

▪ The heating system runs on oil.

2.) ¦(NATURAL SUBSTANCE UNDER THE GROUND)¦[U]

the thick, dark liquid from under the ground from which petrol is produced

→↑crude

▪ a rise in the price of oil

oil industry/company/production etc

▪ the importance of protecting our oil supplies

▪ an oil refinery (=factory where oil is made purer)

↑vinegar, ↑pepper, ↑oil, ↑salt

3.) ¦(LIQUID FROM PLANTS)¦ [U and C]

a smooth, thick liquid made from plants or some animals, used especially in cooking or for making beauty products

▪ cooking oil

olive/vegetable/sunflower etc oil

▪ coconut oil shampoo

▪ Fish oils are supposed to help relieve arthritis.

→↑castor oil, ↑cod-liver oil, ↑linseed oil

4.) ¦(PAINT)¦

oils [plural]

paints that contain oil

= ↑oil paints in oils

▪ I usually paint in oils (=using oils) .

→burn the midnight oil at ↑burn¹ (20), pour oil on troubled waters at ↑pour

oil ²

oil² v [T]

1.) to put oil onto part of a machine or part of something that moves, to help it to move or work more smoothly

▪ The bicycle chain needs oiling.

2.) to put oil or cream onto your skin, for example to protect you from the sun

▪ I asked Simon to oil my back for me.

3.) oil the wheels

BrE to help something to be done in business or politics successfully and easily