oily

oily
oily (adj.) 1520s, from OIL (Cf. oil) (n.) + -Y (Cf. -y) (2). Figurative meaning "smooth, unctuous" is from 1590s. Related: Oiliness.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Oily — Oil y, a. [Compar. {Oilier}; superl. {Oiliest}.] 1. Consisting of oil; containing oil; having the nature or qualities of oil; unctuous; oleaginous; as, oily matter or substance. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. Covered with oil; greasy; hence, resembling …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oily — ȯi lē adj, oil·i·er; est 1) of, relating to, or consisting of oil 2) excessively high in naturally secreted oils <oily hair> <oily skin> …   Medical dictionary

  • oily — [adj1] fatty, greasy adipose, buttery, creamy, lardy, lubricant, lubricative, lubricous, lustrous, oiled, oil soaked, oleaginous, polished, rich, saponaceous, sleek, slippery, smeary, smooth, soapy, soothing, swimming, unctuous, waxy; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • oily — ► ADJECTIVE (oilier, oiliest) 1) containing, covered with, or soaked in oil. 2) resembling oil. 3) (of a person) unpleasantly smooth and ingratiating. DERIVATIVES oiliness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • oily — [oi′lē] adj. oilier, oiliest 1. of, like, consisting of, or containing oil 2. covered with oil; fat; greasy 3. too smooth; slippery; unctuous oilily adv. oiliness n …   English World dictionary

  • oily — [[t]ɔ͟ɪli[/t]] oilier, oiliest 1) ADJ GRADED Something that is oily is covered with oil or contains oil. He was wiping his hands on an oily rag... When she was younger, she had very oily skin... Paul found the sauce too oily. 2) ADJ GRADED: usu… …   English dictionary

  • oily — oil|y [ˈɔıli] adj 1.) covered with oil ▪ He wiped his hands on an oily rag. 2.) similar to oil ▪ an oily liquid 3.) oily hair or skin contains more natural oil than is usual or desirable = ↑greasy ▪ a shampoo for oily hair 4.) oily food contains… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • oily — UK [ˈɔɪlɪ] / US adjective Word forms oily : adjective oily comparative oilier superlative oiliest 1) covered with oil, or containing oil oily fish such as mackerel or herring an oily rag oily skin 2) looking, feeling, smelling, or tasting like… …   English dictionary

  • oily — oil|y [ ɔıli ] adjective 1. ) polite to people, but in an unpleasant way that does not seem sincere: He was an oily and repulsive little man. 2. ) covered with oil or containing oil: oily fish such as tuna an oily rag oily skin 3. ) looking,… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • oily — adj. VERBS ▪ be, look ADVERB ▪ extremely, fairly, very, etc. ▪ He had rather oily hands …   Collocations dictionary

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