English Dictionary

GREASY (greasier, greasiest)

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

Irregular inflected forms: greasier  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation, greasiest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

 Dictionary entry overview: What does greasy mean? 

GREASY (adjective)
  The adjective GREASY has 2 senses:

1. containing an unusual amount of grease or oilplay

2. smeared or soiled with grease or oilplay

  Familiarity information: GREASY used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


GREASY (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: greasier  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: greasiest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Containing an unusual amount of grease or oil

Synonyms:

greasy; oily; oleaginous; sebaceous

Context example:

oleaginous seeds

Similar:

fat; fatty (containing or composed of fat)

Derivation:

greasiness (consisting of or covered with oil)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Smeared or soiled with grease or oil

Synonyms:

greasy; oily

Context example:

get rid of rubbish and oily rags

Similar:

dirty; soiled; unclean (soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime)

Derivation:

grease (a thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery))

greasiness (consisting of or covered with oil)


 Context examples 


The skin has a tendency to look dull and greasy and feels oily to the touch.

(Oily Skin, NCI Thesaurus)

A thick, greasy, substance with no odor or taste made from petroleum (mixture of oily liquids found in the earth).

(Petrolatum, NCI Dictionary)

But as to hunting, what amusement can there be in flying about among a crowd of greasy, galloping farmers?

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I mistered him and sirred him no longer, washed no more greasy pots, and peeled no more potatoes.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He took a sheaf of worn and greasy forms from his pocket.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Traddles ran his greasy hands through his hair, and stood it bolt upright, and stared in confusion on the table-cloth.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth.

(Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people.

(Acne, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

I saw a great yellow face, coarse-grained and greasy, with heavy, double-chin, and two sullen, menacing grey eyes which glared at me from under tufted and sandy brows.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The bell clanged and the car pulled out, leaving Martin wondering as to the nature of the crinkly, greasy wad he clutched in his hand.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)



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