fixed oil
1
5.1
- noun
- Specialized
:
aceite fijo
- Unlike volatile oils, a fixed oil does not evaporate when exposed to air.
Examples
-
Coconut fixed oil is great for cooking.
-
Many cosmetics contain fixed oils for hydration.
-
Olive oil is a well-known example of a fixed oil used in cooking and cosmetics.
-
Pharmaceutical ointments often use a fixed oil as a carrier for active ingredients.
-
Vegetable fixed oil is commonly used in salad dressings and cooking.
-
Many cosmetic products contain fixed oil to help moisturize the skin.
-
The pharmacist recommended a fixed oil for my dry scalp condition.
Synonyms
A liquid from plants or animals that does not evaporate quickly and is used for cooking and skin care
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
5.6
Oil that easily evaporates and gives a plant's smell or taste, often used in perfumes and flavorings
How Volatile
14
3.7
- Specialized
1
5.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is partially derivable because 'fixed' can convey a sense of being stable or non‑volatile and 'oil' is literal, so there is a semantic link to 'nonvolatile oil.' However, this is technical jargon and the specific chemical sense of 'fixed' (i.e. not volatile) is specialized and not the everyday sense of 'fixed' a B1 learner is likely to know, so prior exposure or domain knowledge is usually required.
Etymology
The term fixed oil comes from the idea of an oil that stays in place: the word fixed means 'held' or not moving, so unlike perfume oils that disappear into the air, these oils stay and do not 'evaporate'. That's why fixed oil means an oil that 'does not evaporate' and is used in food, cosmetics, or medicine.