essential oil

noun

Definition of essential oil

: any of a class of volatile oils that give plants their characteristic odors and are used especially in perfumes and flavorings, and for aromatherapy — compare fixed oil

Examples of essential oil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dear Mediator, My sister-in-law has recently become an essential oil enthusiast. Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, "The sister-in-law and the not-so-essential oils," 4 Aug. 2019 Think dank, musty weed surrounded by essential oils of pithy grapefruit, burning pine and sage. Jay R. Brooks, The Mercury News, "Northern California beer news: Tony Hawk’s new brew and more," 24 July 2019 That original list of products included everything from artist’s brushes to essential oils to helicopters. Jen Kirby, Vox, "Cheese and whiskey are targeted in US’s latest proposed tariffs on EU," 2 July 2019 The location features a salad bar, cafe, olive bar, pizza station, sushi and ramen bar, bulk station and an apothecary with essential oils and herbs. Caroline Glenn, orlandosentinel.com, "Lucky’s Market opens new store in Orlando across from Fashion Square mall," 19 June 2019 This can be achieved with music, aromatherapy using essential oils or playing a game. Marie Fazio, chicagotribune.com, "How to keep panicky pets calm and safe when the fireworks go off," 2 July 2019 For those who use essential oils in their homes, take care to keep the oils away from your pets. Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Seemingly benign skunk deterrent can be dangerous for cats," 14 June 2019 This coconut coffee body scrub works to exfoliate and buff away dry skin while moisturizing with a blend of coffee and essential oils. Noelle Ike, Hanna Williams And Jacob Krol, CNN Underscored, "Prime Day 2019: These deals are still live," 17 July 2019 That can include chemical treatments, tweaks to colony management practices, and use of essential oils that can keep the mites at bay. Scott Dance, baltimoresun.com, "Honey bee losses highest in 13 years this winter, University of Maryland-led survey finds," 19 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essential oil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of essential oil

1674, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for essential oil

essential oil

noun

English Language Learners Definition of essential oil

: an oil that comes from a plant, that smells like the plant it comes from, and that is used in perfumes and flavorings

essential oil

noun

Medical Definition of essential oil

: any of a large class of volatile odoriferous oils of vegetable origin that give plants their characteristic odors and often other properties, that are obtained from various parts of the plants (as flowers, leaves, or bark) by steam distillation, expression, or extraction, that are usually mixtures of compounds (as aldehydes or esters), and that are used often in the form of essences in perfumes, flavorings, and pharmaceutical preparations

called also ethereal oil, volatile oil

— compare fatty oil, fixed oil