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Oily vs Greasy - What's the difference?

oily | greasy |

Greasy is a synonym of oily.



As adjectives the difference between oily and greasy

is that oily is relating to oil while greasy is having a slippery surface; having a surface covered with grease.

As a noun oily

is a marble with an oily lustre.

oily

English

Alternative forms

* oyly (obsolete)

Adjective

(er)
  • Relating to oil.
  • Smeared with or containing oil.
  • (figuratively) Excessively friendly or polite so as to sound insincere.

    • Derived terms

    * smell of an oily rag

    Noun

    (oilies)
  • A marble with an oily lustre.
  • * 1998 , Joanna Cole, Stephanie Calmenson, Michael Street, Marbles: 101 ways to play
    • Lustered (also called lusters, rainbows, oilies , and pearls)
  • * 2001 , Paul Webley, The economic psychology of everyday life (page 39)
    • But marbles are not only used to play games: they are also traded. In this market, the value of the different kinds of marbles (oilies , emperors, etc.) is determined by local supply and demand and not by the price of the marbles
  • oilskins (waterproof garment)

    • greasy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a slippery surface; having a surface covered with grease.
    • a greasy mineral
  • * Shakespeare
    • With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers.
  • Containing a lot of grease or fat.
  • * 2010 , Gavin Hoffen, Dandelion (page 3)
    • With a skin full of alcohol and a probable overwhelming desire for a greasy kebab, I had evidently got myself into such a state that I was unable to locate the correct door to the fast food shop.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 3 , author=Felicity Cloake , title=How to cook perfect garlic bread , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=Nigel and Richard Bertinet go for butter. Jamie and Nigella both opt for olive oil, and Garten uses a mixture, spreading the bread generously with butter, then topping it with garlic and herbs in olive oil. Oil, to my taste, simply makes the bread seem greasy : it's great for dipping, but it doesn't seem to soak into the bread in the same way as butter – I've probably just got hopelessly rich Anglo-Saxon tastes, but for me, it's butter all the way.}}
  • (slang) detestable, unethical.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2004 , month=April 25 , title=Trailer Park Boys epsiode "Rub N Tiz'zug" citation , passage=Julian:'' We're gonna fill the trailers up with furniture all right, boys, but we're gonna rent them out by the hour.
    ''Bubbles:     Aw, that's greasy .}}
  • (obsolete) fat, bulky
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) gross; indelicate; indecent
    • (Marston)
  • (of a horse) Afflicted with the disease called grease.

    • Derived terms

    * greasy spoon

    Anagrams

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