oil

[oil] /ɔɪl/
noun
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.
  1. oil color.
  2. oil painting.
5.
Informal. unctuous hypocrisy; flattery.
6.
an oilskin garment.
7.
Australian and New Zealand Slang. facts or news; information:
good oil.
verb (used with object)
8.
to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil.
9.
to bribe.
10.
to make unctuous or smooth:
to oil his words.
11.
to convert into oil by melting, as butter.
adjective
12.
pertaining to or resembling oil.
13.
using oil, especially as a fuel:
an oil furnace.
14.
concerned with the production or use of oil:
an offshore oil rig.
15.
made with oil.
16.
obtained from oil.
Idioms
17.
pour oil on troubled waters, to attempt to calm a difficult or tense situation, as an argument.
18.
strike oil,
  1. to discover oil, especially to bring in a well.
  2. to have good luck, especially financially; make an important and valuable discovery:
    They struck oil only after years of market research.
Origin
1125-75; Middle English olie, oile < Old French < Latin oleum, olīvum (olive) oil < *oleivum (cf. Deus) < dialectal Greek *élaiwon (Attic élaion), derivative of *elaíwā olive
Related forms
oilless, adjective
oillessness, noun
oillike, adjective
reoil, verb
self-oiling, adjective
unoiling, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for pour oil on troubled waters

oil

/ɔɪl/
noun
1.
any of a number of viscous liquids with a smooth sticky feel. They are usually flammable, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are obtained from plants and animals, from mineral deposits, and by synthesis. They are used as lubricants, fuels, perfumes, foodstuffs, and raw materials for chemicals See also essential oil, fixed oil
2.
  1. another name for petroleum
  2. (as modifier): an oil engine, an oil rig
3.
  1. Also called lubricating oil. any of a number of substances usually derived from petroleum and used for lubrication
  2. (in combination): an oilcan, an oilstone
  3. (as modifier): an oil pump
4.
Also called fuel oil. a petroleum product used as a fuel in domestic heating, industrial furnaces, marine engines, etc
5.
(Brit)
  1. paraffin, esp when used as a domestic fuel
  2. (as modifier): an oil lamp, an oil stove
6.
any substance of a consistency resembling that of oil: oil of vitriol
7.
the solvent, usually linseed oil, with which pigments are mixed to make artists' paints
8.
  1. (often pl) oil colour or paint
  2. (as modifier): an oil painting
9.
an oil painting
10.
(Austral & NZ, slang) the good oil, the dinkum oil, facts or news
11.
strike oil
  1. to discover petroleum while drilling for it
  2. (informal) to become very rich or successful
verb (transitive)
12.
to lubricate, smear, polish, etc, with oil or an oily substance
13.
(informal) to bribe (esp in the phrase oil someone's palm)
14.
oil the wheels, to make things run smoothly
15.
See well-oiled
Derived Forms
oil-like, adjective
Word Origin
C12: from Old French oile, from Latin oleum (olive) oil, from olea olive tree, from Greek elaiaolive
Word Origin and History for pour oil on troubled waters

oil

n.

late 12c., "olive oil," from Anglo-French and Old North French olie, from Old French oile, uile "oil" (12c., Modern French huile), from Latin oleum "oil, olive oil" (source of Spanish, Italian olio), from Greek elaion "olive tree," from elaia (see olive). Old English æle, Dutch olie, German Öl, etc. all are from Latin. It meant "olive oil" exclusively till c.1300, when meaning began to be extended to any fatty, greasy substance. Use for "petroleum" first recorded 1520s, but not common until 19c. The artist's oils (1660s), short for oil-color (1530s), are paints made by grinding pigment in oil.

v.

mid-15c., from oil (n.). Related: Oiled; oiling. An Old English verb in this sense was besmyrian.

pour oil on troubled waters in Medicine

oil (oil)
n.
Any of numerous mineral, vegetable, and synthetic substances and animal and vegetable fats that are generally slippery, combustible, viscous, liquid or liquefiable at room temperatures, soluble in various organic solvents such as ether but not in water, and used in a great variety of products, especially lubricants and fuels.

pour oil on troubled waters in Science
oil
(oil)
Any of a large class of viscous liquids that are typically very slippery and greasy. Oils are composed mostly of glycerides. They are flammable, do not mix with water, and include animal and vegetable fats as well as substances of mineral or synthetic origin. They are used in food, soap, and candles, and make good lubricants and fuels. See essential oil, mineral oil, petroleum.

pour oil on troubled waters in Culture

pour oil on troubled waters definition


To calm a disturbance: “His ideas caused real dissension within the party at first, but he poured oil on troubled waters in last night's speech.”

Note: In ancient times, oil was often poured on ocean waves to calm turbulence, a practice that would be denounced today.
Slang definitions & phrases for pour oil on troubled waters

oil

noun
  1. Flattering and unctuous talk; baloney, bunk: Stop the oil, will you?/ marinated in good old Hollywood oil (1917+)
  2. Money, esp money paid for bribery and acquired by graft (1903+)
verb

: We'll have to oil the mayor to get that permit

Related Terms

banana oil, boil someone in oil, palm oil, strike oil


pour oil on troubled waters in the Bible

Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (Ex. 25:6; 27:20; Matt. 25:3); for medicinal purposes (Isa. 1:6; Luke 10:34; James 5:14); and for anointing the dead (Matt. 26:12; Luke 23:56). It was one of the most valuable products of the country (Deut. 32:13; Ezek. 16:13), and formed an article of extensive commerce with Tyre (27:17). The use of it was a sign of gladness (Ps. 92:10; Isa. 61:3), and its omission a token of sorrow (2 Sam. 14:2; Matt. 6:17). It was very abundant in Galilee. (See OLIVE.)

Idioms and Phrases with pour oil on troubled waters

pour oil on troubled waters

Soothe or calm down something or someone, as in The twins are quarreling so I'd best go pour oil on troubled waters. This term alludes to an ancient practice of pouring oil on ocean waves to calm their turbulence, which was mentioned in the eighth century. [ Mid-1800s ]

oil

see: