oil stain
2
3.3
- noun
- /ɔɪl steɪn/
:
mancha de aceite
- He stares at the familiar pattern of oil stains marking the cement.
- leave an oil stain
- oil stains on the concrete
There is there an oil stain on the floor And when you see one stop and go.
- There is there an oil stain on the floor And when you see one stop and go.
Examples
-
Red, we need to get rid of the oil stain in the driveway.
-
He came back late that night, the coat over his arm, and it wasn't until the next morning as I was hanging it up that I found the oil stains on the lining.
Fiction book (1997) -
Dead leaves, paper dust and oil stains on and around the engine can catch fire.
-
Right here!" He pointed to a spot in the parking lot that had no more than an oil stain on it now.
Fiction book (1990) -
Finally, Grandson's uncle came, wearing blue work clothes covered with oil stains.
Fiction book (1995) -
The only trace of an automobile was old oil stains on the concrete floor and a lingering odor of gasoline.
Fiction book (1999) -
Women in particular voiced approval of the gas lighting, since it freed them from having to duck drippings from the candles or wipe oil stains from their dresses.
Academic text (1993) -
For set-in oil stains (ones that have gone through the dryer), I cover the oil spot with WD-40 (which reactivates the oil), then cover that with Dawn and rub it in.
Blog text (5) -
The rug still had oil stains that needed to be cleaned.
-
Finally, Grandson's uncle came, wearing blue work clothes covered with oil stains.
Synonyms
224
1.4
A mark that makes something a different color and is hard to remove
30
1.9
A dirty mark on something that makes it look untidy
14
4.1
A messy mark left on a surface by a substance
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a mark caused by oil' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents 'oil' (the substance) and 'stain' (a mark). This straightforward noun‑modifier pattern is common across languages and follows regular English compounding, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.
Etymology
The noun oil stain comes from a simple image: when a drop of oil lands on cloth or a floor it makes a dark, greasy stain that is hard to wash out. That's why it means a 'mark caused by oil'.