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oil the palm of

Variant of oil

noun

  1. any of various kinds of greasy, combustible substances obtained from animal, vegetable, and mineral sources: oils are liquid at ordinary temperatures and soluble in certain organic solvents, as ether, but not in water
  2. petroleum
  3. any of various substances having the consistency of oil
    1. oil color
    2. oil painting
  4. Informal smooth, hypocritical flattery

Origin: ME oile < OFr < L oleum, oil, olive oil < Gr elaion, (olive) oil, akin to elaia, olive

transitive verb

  1. to smear, lubricate, or supply with oil
  2. to bribe: chiefly in

adjective

of, from, like, or yielding oil, or having to do with the production or use of oil

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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