oil

CEFRA2

/ɔɪl/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A thick liquid from plants or underground, used for fuel or cooking.

  2. 02

    verb

    To put oil on something to protect or help it move.

Examples

  • Several companies are drilling for oil in the region.

  • The machine squealed for lack of oil.

At a glance

Sits at A2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Also pronounced

  • /ɔj(ɪ)l/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel or lubricant.

  2. Liquid fat.

  3. An oil painting.

More examples

In context

  • We want to explore an underwater oil field.

  • Oil is found in countries such as Saudi Arabia and is transported all over the world.

  • I prefer to paint in oil

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

To keep the engine running smoothly, change the blank every 3,000 miles.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English oyle, oile (“olive oil”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman olie, 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.