What does oil mean?
Oil is a word that covers both a family of liquid fats and the petroleum used as fuel and industrial material. In everyday cooking, it can mean vegetable oil, olive oil, butter, or another edible fat. In an industrial or environmental context, it usually means crude petroleum or a refined product derived from it. Oil also functions as a lubricant: mechanics oil machinery, and hinges may be oiled to stop them from squeaking. Artists use oil as a binding medium for paints, producing the well-known oil painting. The word can also describe supplies of the substance, as in “oil reserves,” and it is frequently paired with terms such as “crude,” “edible,” “spill,” and “painting.” Because of its economic importance, “oil” carries associations with energy, industry, pollution, and global politics as well as cooking and maintenance.
A viscous liquid consisting of fats or hydrocarbons, especially petroleum used as fuel, lubricant, or raw material; also a fat or oily liquid used for cooking, cosmetics, or maintenance.
"A thin layer of oil kept the bicycle chain from rusting."
To lubricate, coat, grease, or supply something with oil.
"The technician oiled the gears before testing the machine."
The plural oils is used for different kinds of oil, for supplies of the substance, and in the figurative sense of artistic styles or products associated with oil.
"The refinery produces several types of oils for use in industry."
The word oil comes from Latin oleum, the same root behind the familiar label oleic acid, one of the fatty acids found in olive oil and other edible fats.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does oil come from?
English oil comes through Old French from Latin oleum, a word for olive oil or any oily liquid. Latin oleum is related to Latin olīva, “olive,” and the English oil later broadened from oils derived from olives to other vegetable oils, animal fats, and petroleum. The modern sense for petroleum developed in the 19th century, while the scientific combining form oleo- preserves the Latin root in words such as oleic and oleate.
Related word forms
How oil is actually used
When used without qualification, “oil” often means petroleum or cooking oil, depending on context. British and American speakers use both /ɔɪl/ and /oɪl/; the former is especially common in British usage. As a verb, “oil” is formal or technical and commonly refers to lubrication or coating, while “oil painting” and “oil company” are established noun uses.
Easily confused with oil
Oil is a liquid fat or petroleum product, whereas an olive is the fruit of the olive tree.
Oil is typically a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, while gas is a gaseous substance; the term oil can also refer to petroleum before it is refined into fuels such as gasoline.