Meaning & use
oil
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A thick, greasy liquid that does not mix with water, used as fuel, for lubrication, or in cooking.
Grammar: Countable when referring to a specific type (e.g., 'olive oils'), uncountable when referring to the substance in general (e.g., 'a bottle of oil').
Patterns
- cooking oil
- motor oil
- a drop of oil
She poured a little oil into the frying pan.
The mechanic checked the oil in the engine.
The country's economy depends on exporting crude oil.
verbtransitive
To lubricate or treat something with oil.
Grammar: Takes an object: oil the hinges.
Patterns
- oil something
- oil the wheels
He oiled the bicycle chain to stop it squeaking.
The chef oiled the pan before adding the batter.
Word forms
| plural | oils |
|---|---|
| third person singular | oils |
| past tense | oiled |
| past participle | oiled |
| present participle | oiling |
Common combinations
- olive oil
- She dressed the salad with olive oil and lemon juice.
- oil change
- The car needs an oil change every 5,000 miles.
- oil well
- They drilled an oil well in the desert.
- essential oil
- Lavender essential oil can help you relax.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- oily adjective
- Covered with or containing oil; also describes food that tastes of oil.
- oiler noun
- A ship that carries oil, or a device for applying oil.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'oil' correctly as a verb?
Choose one answer.
The verb 'oil' means to apply oil to something, as in 'She oiled the squeaky door.' The other options either use 'oil' as a noun or incorrectly form the verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “oil”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.