oiler

noun

oil·​er ˈȯi-lər How to pronounce oiler (audio)
1
: a person who oils something
2
: a receptacle or device for applying oil
3
oilers plural : oilskin sense 3
4
: an auxiliary naval vessel used for refueling at sea

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Prior to Tuesday, the yard had built, started or won contracts to build eight Lewis-class oilers. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2023 But guys especially need to show their complexions some extra TLC because male skin tends to be thicker, oiler, and have more prominent pores than female skin. Garrett Munce, townandcountrymag.com, 5 May 2023 The modern Navy’s Henry J. Kaiser class fleet oilers, by contrast, are 50 percent bigger, displace twice as much fully loaded, but have a crew of just 89. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023 People with oiler or acne-prone skin should look for toners with BHA (beta hydroxy acids) or salicylic acids to help exfoliate their skin and unclog pores. Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2023 Harrison was a railroading innovator with only a high school education, hired as a car oiler in a Memphis yard in 1963. Dan Schwartz, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2023 The models on sale all feature button start, a knob to loosen or tighten the chain, and an automatic chain oiler to keep it well-lubricated and spinning smoothly. Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2023 Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro will also be in San Diego this weekend to help launch the Navy replenishment oiler Harvey Milk at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard and give a speech at the San Diego Military Advisory Council breakfast at Naval Base Point Loma Monday. Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2021 Sailors and marine oilers: 37.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, ranked 116th for its nonfatal injury rate in 2019, the latest year for which data was available. Jayme Fraser, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oiler.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oiler was circa 1846

Dictionary Entries Near oiler

Cite this Entry

“Oiler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oiler. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

oiler

noun
oil·​er ˈȯi-lər How to pronounce oiler (audio)
1
: a person (as a worker) who oils something
2
: a device for applying oil
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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