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oil

oil

1.0
A slippery thick liquid that does not mix with water used for machines, fuel, or cooking
  • noun
  • /ɔɪl/
translation icon : petróleo
  • In fact, India is far more exposed to oil market fluctuations than other major emerging economies.
  • oil prices
  • crude oil
  • oil spill

I don't like ETFs and I have oil and I have Bitcoin.

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Examples

  • And even without touching, see, the oil is just shooting out.

  • In short, there could be much more oil under the sea than previously thought.

    Academic text (2008)
  • That's right, because your car runs on oil and on nothing else.

  • Western oil companies dominated the global oil industry and collected most of its profits.

    Academic text (2011)
  • India will import ninety percent of its oil, also from the Middle East.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The country depends almost exclusively on oil export revenues to develop its economy.

    Academic text (2013)
  • I put the thinnest little layer of oil on the pan.

  • Sands so filled with oil that engineers predict a potential yield of 250 billion barrels.

  • I added a few drops of oil to the squeaky door hinge to eliminate the noise.

  • She used vegetable oil to fry the chicken, giving it a crispy texture.

Synonyms

petroleum
vsoil
  • Specialized
100 4.4

A thick dark liquid found under the ground that people use to make fuels like gasoline and diesel

is the general slippery liquid used across cooking, lubrication, and fuel
crude
vsoil
  • Specialized
66 5.5

Oil taken from the ground before it is made into fuel

is the general slippery liquid that may be this raw substance or refined forms
crude oil
vsoil
  • Specialized
47 3.4

A thick black oil from under the ground used to make fuel

is the general slippery liquid often produced and refined for many uses
lubricant
vsoil
  • Specialized
33 3.7

A liquid or grease that reduces wear and noise between moving parts

is broader, covering many slippery liquids used for fuel and cooking too
lube
vsoil
  • Informal
32 5.9

A substance like oil that makes machine parts move smoothly

is the wider category of slippery liquids also used for fuel or cooking
17 1.0

An oil made from plants that you use for cooking

is the broad slippery liquid term that also includes nonedible fuel and grease forms
motor oil
vsoil
11 3.3

Liquid you put in a car engine to make the moving parts work smoothly

is the general slippery liquid not limited to engines
cooking oil
vsoil
7 1.0

Oil from plants or seeds used to cook food

is the general slippery liquid term covering many industrial and culinary uses
fuel oil
vsoil
  • Specialized
5 3.5

A heavy oil that heats buildings and runs engines

is the broader slippery liquid group that also serves cooking and lubrication
mineral oil
vsoil
2 3.4

A clear oily liquid made from oil under the ground used on skin, machines, or to treat constipation

is the broader slippery liquid class that includes edible and fuel types
lubricating oil
vsoil
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A thick oily liquid that reduces rubbing between moving parts in machines

is the general slippery liquid used for many purposes including lubrication
gas oil
vsoil
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A heavy fuel made from oil that runs boilers and large engines

is the general slippery liquid term that also covers edible and lubricant types
fossil oil
vsoil
  • Specialized
4.2

A dark natural oil from ancient plants and animals that people use for fuel and products

is the common slippery liquid name that covers both natural and refined forms
rock oil
vsoil
  • Archaic
9.5

A dark thick oil found underground used for fuel and making products

is the everyday slippery liquid term used now for many types
paraffin oil
vsoil
  • UK
4.2

A thin clear liquid used as fuel for lighting and heating, for example in lamps

is the general slippery liquid not limited to this thinner fuel form

Idioms

6 5.1

Work or study late at night to finish something

oil and water
  • Informal
1 4.6

People or things that are completely different and do not get along

To say or do something to calm a tense situation between people

Compounds

126 1.0

A liquid made by pressing olives used for cooking and salads

117 3.0

A company that finds, refines, and sells oil

crude oil
  • Specialized
47 3.4

A thick black oil from under the ground used to make fuel

oil production
  • Specialized
41 3.4

To get oil from the ground by drilling wells

34 3.0

Businesses that find, get, make, and sell oil and things made from it

oil rig
  • Specialized
24 3.5

A large platform with machines that drill oil and gas on land or at sea

oil well
  • Specialized
19 2.8

A deep hole in the ground that brings up oil

17 1.0

An oil made from plants that you use for cooking

15 3.3

Fuel made from oil used to heat homes and other buildings

oil refinery
  • Specialized
14 3.5

A factory that changes raw oil into fuels like gasoline and diesel

14 3.7

A strong-smelling oil from a plant used in perfumes and to add scent to a room

oil tanker
  • Specialized
13 2.5

A very large ship that carries oil across oceans

big oil
  • Literature
12 3.2

Large companies in the oil industry that have much money and political power

oil pipeline
  • Specialized
12 2.9

A long set of pipes that carries oil between places

12 3.4

An industry that finds, produces, and sells oil and fuel

11 2.3

Replacing old oil in a car engine with fresh oil

11 3.3

Liquid you put in a car engine to make the moving parts work smoothly

11 1.5

An edible oil from inside coconuts used for cooking and skin care

9 2.7

A liquid from oily fish that people take as a health supplement

7 1.0

Oil from plants or seeds used to cook food

7 4.1

A lamp that burns oil to give light

7 2.8

A cooking and industrial oil made from the fruit of oil palm trees

snake oil salesman
  • Offensive
7 8.0

A person who tricks people by offering fake medicines or useless products

snake oil
  • Informal
7 8.0

A thing presented as helpful that does not work and tricks people

7 2.0

A light cooking oil that comes from rapeseed and has a mild taste

6 1.0

A gentle oil that keeps a baby's skin soft

6 2.7

A picture made with oil paint on canvas or panel

6 3.7

A thin layer of oil that floats on water after a spill

5 1.1

An oil from sesame seeds that people use to add flavor to food

fuel oil
  • Specialized
5 3.5

A heavy oil that heats buildings and runs engines

oil shale
  • Specialized
5 5.9

A rock that gives oil when heated

5 2.0

A person who finds, gets, or sells oil

5 1.8

An oil from peanuts used for cooking and making soap

4 3.9

An oil made from cloves used for flavor, smell, and easing toothache

oil paint
  • Specialized
4 3.3

A type of paint that has color mixed in oil and dries slowly

oil pressure
  • Specialized
4 3.7

How hard oil pushes through engine parts to keep them working

oil future
  • Specialized
4 6.6

An agreement to buy or sell oil at a set price for delivery later

3 3.4

A pale yellow oil from castor seeds that people use to treat constipation and to make paints and varnishes

3 5.3

A very rich and powerful person who owns large oil companies

3 4.8

A yellowish oil from flax seeds used in paints and to protect wood

3 3.5

A part in a car engine that cleans oil to protect engine parts

oil painting
  • Specialized
3 2.9

Art of making pictures using oil-based paint

3 2.5

A scented oil you add to bath water to make skin soft

shale oil
  • Specialized
3 4.0

People pump oil from shale using horizontal drilling and fracking

2 3.4

A clear oily liquid made from oil under the ground used on skin, machines, or to treat constipation

2 1.4

A pale yellow vegetable oil made from corn kernels used for cooking

2 2.4

An oil that people burn in lamps and heaters

2 3.3

A dark mark on clothes or a surface made by oil that is hard to remove

oil pump
  • Specialized
2 3.4

A machine that moves oil to engine parts to cool them and make them move smoothly

whale oil
  • Archaic
2 7.8

A pale yellow to brown oil from whale fat that people use to light lamps

A liquid from the livers of cod that people take as a vitamin supplement

diesel oil
  • Specialized
1 2.8

A heavy oil used as fuel in diesel engines

1 3.2

A pale yellow oil made from almonds used for cooking and skin care

A strong oil from the peppermint plant used to add flavour and help with digestion

1 3.3

A liquid you put on your hair to make it soft and shiny

1 5.3

A group of countries or companies that work together to control oil production and prices

1 2.9

A liquid taken from walnuts used for cooking and salad dressing

An oil with a strong smell from eucalyptus leaves that eases colds and helps clean things

1 4.3

An oil from flax seeds used as food and in paints or varnishes

1 3.2

A yellowish liquid from mustard seeds that people use for cooking and massage

1 6.3

A special oil blessed by a priest for use in religious ceremonies

A rise in the amount of oil a country or company produces

1 3.7

A strong scented oil made from rose petals used in perfume and skin care

1 3.3

A machine that burns oil to heat a home or building

1 3.4

A paint made by mixing color with oil that artists use

oil of wintergreen
  • Specialized
1 7.5

An oil from a small plant that smells strong and flavors foods and soothes pain

1 3.6

A tropical palm tree with long leaves that produces red fruit used to make oil

Oil made from sunflower seeds used for cooking and food

1 2.0

A cooking oil made from soybeans

volatile oil
  • Specialized
1 5.6

Oil that easily evaporates and gives a plant's smell or taste, often used in perfumes and flavorings

Oil from the livers of cod and similar fish that people take to get vitamins A and D

coal oil
  • Archaic
1 7.6

An oil made from coal that burns easily in lamps and heaters

fixed oil
  • Specialized
1 5.1

An oil from plants or animals that does not evaporate and is used in cooking, cosmetics and medicine

How Thick

tar
65 4.1
oil
1.0
motor oil
11 3.3
crude oil
  • Specialized
47 3.4
kerosene
41 3.8

Surface Forms

oil singular
oils plural

Etymology

Oil comes from the Latin oleum and Greek elaion, which mean 'olive'. Because olive oil was the common oily liquid long ago, the name was later used for other slippery liquids used for cooking, machines, or fuel, which is why 'oil' now means any slippery liquid used for many jobs.