oily

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Covered with or containing oil.

   After fixing the car, his hands were covered in oily grime.

2. 2
   adj

   Looking or feeling like oil.

   The calm sea had a smooth, oily surface.

3. 3
   adj

   Too friendly or polite in a way that seems false.

   The salesman's oily smile made me uneasy.

From Middle English oylei, equivalent to oil + -y. Compare German ölig (“oily”), Swedish oljig (“oily”).

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