oil

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [U] a thick liquid that is found in rock underground SYNPETROLEUM: drilling for oil 2 [U] a form of PETROLEUM that is used as fuel and to make parts of machines move smoothly: engine oil * an oil lamp / heater * Put some oil in the car. 3 [U,C] a smooth thick liquid that is made from plants or animals and is used in cooking: olive oil * vegetable oils 4 [U,C] a smooth thick liquid that is made from plants, minerals, etc. and is used on the skin or hair: lavender bath oil * suntan oil seealsoESSENTIALOIL 5 [U] (also oils [pl.]) coloured paint containing oil used by artists: a painting done in oils * landscapes in oil seealsoOILPAINT 6 [C] = OILPAINTING: Among the more important Turner oils was 'Venus and Adonis'. seealsoOILY, CASTOROIL, CODLIVEROIL, LINSEEDOIL IDIOMS see BURNv., POUR verb [VN] to put oil onto or into sth, for example a machine, in order to protect it or make it work smoothly: He oiled his bike and pumped up the tyres. IDIOMS oil the wheels (BrE) (AmE grease the wheels) to help sth to happen easily and without problems, especially in business or politics