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oil

Pronunciation: /ɔɪl/

The English word “oil” has 9 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. Liquid fat.
  2. Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel or lubricant.
  3. Petroleum.
  4. An oil painting.
  5. Oil paint.

verb

  1. To lubricate with oil.
  2. To grease with oil for cooking.
  3. To fuel with oil.
  4. To say in an unctuous manner.

Etymology

From Middle English oyle, oile (“olive oil”), borrowed from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (“oil, olive oil”), from Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion, “olive oil”), from ἐλαία (elaía, “olive”). Compare Proto-Slavic *lojь. More at olive. Doublet of oleum. Supplanted Middle English ele (“oil”), from Old English ele (“oil”), also from Latin.

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