Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
camphor oil

camphor oil

5.2
A strong-smelling oil used on the skin or in steam to ease breathing and add scent
  • noun
  • /ˈkæmfər ɔɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : aceite de alcanfor
  • Eucalyptus oil, basil oil, camphor oil, chamomile oil, ginger oil, and juniper seed oil are some of the widely used oils.

Examples

  • Camphor oil is often used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and reduce stress.

  • Many ointments for muscle aches contain camphor oil for its soothing properties.

  • In traditional medicine, camphor oil is applied topically to relieve congestion and respiratory issues.

Synonyms

essential oil
vscamphor oil
14 3.7

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

is a specific extract distilled from a resin and used medicinally

Surface Forms

camphor oil singular
camphor oils plural

Morphology

camphor + oil

The meaning 'an oil derived from camphor' follows directly from combining 'camphor' (the substance) with 'oil' (a liquid product), forming a transparent noun–noun compound that denotes a substance made from camphor. This is a common compositional pattern in English (and many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Camphor oil comes from heating the sticky sap of the camphor tree to collect a strong-smelling oil, with camphor and oil showing that literal process. Because people used this strong-smelling camphor oil to ease aches and help breathing, today camphor oil means the medicinal, fragrant oil used in 'medicine' and 'aromatherapy'.