Dictionary  oilPronunciation: (oil), [key] —n. 1. any of a large class of substances typically unctuous, viscous, combustible, liquid at ordinary temperatures, and soluble in ether or alcohol but not in water: used for anointing, perfuming, lubricating, illuminating, heating, etc. 2. a substance of this or similar consistency. 3. refined or crude petroleum. 4. Painting. a. See oil color. b. See oil painting. 5. Informal.unctuous hypocrisy; flattery. 6. an oilskin garment. 7. Australian and New Zealand Slang.facts or news; information: good oil. 8. pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument. 9. strike oil, a. to discover oil, esp. to bring in a well. b. to have good luck, esp. financially; make an important and valuable discovery: They struck oil only after years of market research. —v.t. 1. to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil. 2. to bribe. 3. to make unctuous or smooth: to oil his words. 4. to convert into oil by melting, as butter. —adj. 1. pertaining to or resembling oil. 2. using oil, esp. as a fuel: an oil furnace. 3. concerned with the production or use of oil: an offshore oil rig. 4. made with oil. 5. obtained from oil. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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