oily

Everyday

1. Covered with oil or containing a lot of oil: «oily hands», «oily fish». tree →
2. Like oil, smooth and greasy: «an oily liquid». tree →
3. Of a person: too polite and friendly in a way you do not trust. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons: oil does not mix with water and floats on top; oily stains are hard to wash out. In healthy eating: «oily fish» like salmon and sardines are good for you. In environment lessons: oil spills leave birds' feathers oily so they cannot fly or keep warm. In everyday life: «oily skin», «oily rag».

Examples

• My hands were oily after fixing my bike. tree →
• Salmon is an oily fish that is good for your brain. tree →
• The chips were too oily. tree →
• The seabird's feathers were oily after the spill. tree →
• An oily film floated on top of the water. tree →
• Wash your oily hair with shampoo. tree →
• The oily man smiled too much. tree →
• He heard them crack the small round bones with their strong long teeth and eat out the oily marrow. tree →

Note

Comparative: oilier, oiliest (y → i). Oil and water do not mix: oil floats because it is less dense. «Oily» = with oil; «greasy» = with fat or grease — they are close in meaning.