See Also:

oil(2) (iou)



oil verb. LME.
[from the noun.]
verb trans.
a. Anoint; pour oil on ceremonially, esp. when consecrating as monarch. LME-M19.
b. Put oil on; apply oil to; moisten, smear, cover, or lubricate with oil; spec. rub (a person) with suntan oil to protect against sunburn. LME.
oil the wheels fig. help things to go smoothly.
c. Treat with oil; esp. cover (water) with a surface film of oil to kill mosquito larvae. E20.
verb trans. Bribe; flatter. E17.
oil a person's hand, oil a person's palm bribe (a person). oil one's tongue arch. adopt or use flattering speech. oil the knocker slang bribe or tip a doorman.
a. verb trans. Supply with oil as fuel. E17.
b. verb intrans. Take on oil as fuel. E20.
a. verb intrans. Of butter or other food: become oily, esp. when heated or melted. E18.
b. verb trans. Make (butter etc.) oily, esp. by heating or melting. M18.
verb intrans. Move or go in a smooth or stealthy manner. colloq. E20.
With adverbs in specialized senses: oil in colloq. enter stealthily; fig. interfere. oil out (a) Painting moisten (parts of a picture) with oil before retouching; (b) colloq. leave stealthily; fig. extricate oneself. oil up (a) clog up with oil; (b) rub or polish with oil; cover (the body) with suntan oil.