oil
noun
ɔɪl 
ɔɪl 
1 [uncountable] a thick liquid that is found in rock underground Synonym
petroleumdrilling for oil2 [uncountable] a form of petroleum that is used as fuel and to make parts of machines move smoothlyengine oilan oil lamp/heaterPut some oil in the car.3 [uncountable, countable] a smooth thick liquid that is made from plants or animals and is used in cookingolive oilvegetable oils4 [uncountable, countable] a smooth thick liquid that is made from plants, minerals, etc. and is used on the skin or hairlavender bath oilsuntan oil see also essential oil5 [uncountable] also oils [plural] coloured paint containing oil used by artistsa painting done in oilslandscapes in oil6 [countable] = oil paintingAmong the more important Turner oils was ‘Venus and Adonis’. see also oily, castor oil, cod liver oil, linseed oil Idioms
see burn the midnight oil at burn verb, pour oil on troubled water at pour
Usage note: Fine artsCreating artmake a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/printsdo an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketchcreate a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculpturesproduce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of printspaint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(especially US) in watercolors/on canvasdraw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in inksketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shapecarve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of woodsculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figureetch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glassmix colours/(especially US) colors/pigments/paintsadd/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(especially US) color/pigmentuse oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paintwork in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of mediaDescribing artpaint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interiordepict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious themecreate an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspectivepaint dark/rich/skin/flesh tonesuse broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric formsdevelop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract styleShowing and selling artcommission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of somebody/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint somethingframe a painting/portraithang art/a picture/a paintingdisplay/exhibit modern art/somebody's work/a collection/original artwork/ drawings/sculptures/a piecebe displayed/hung in a gallery/museuminstall/place a sculpture in/at/on somethingerect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statuehold/host/mount/open/curate/see (especially British English) an exhibition/(North American English usually) exhibitbe/go on (British English) exhibition/(North American English) exhibitfeature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary workscollect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese printsrestore/preserve a fresco/great works of art