Water vs. Oil — What's the Difference?

Water (chemical formula H2O) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent). It is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients.

An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water, literally "water fearing") and lipophilic (mixes with other oils, literally "fat loving"). Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually flammable and surface active.

A colourless, transparent, odourless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant.

A stretch or area of water, such as a river, sea, or lake

Oil paint

Urine

Information or facts

The amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb, especially as discharged in a flow shortly before birth

Lubricate, coat, or impregnate with oil

The quality of transparency and brilliance shown by a diamond or other gem.

Supply with oil as fuel

Capital stock that represents a book value greater than the true assets of a company.

Any of numerous mineral, vegetable, or synthetic substances or animal or vegetable fats that are generally slippery, combustible, viscous, liquid or liquefiable at room temperatures, soluble in various organic solvents such as ether but not in water, and used in a great variety of products, especially lubricants and fuels.

Pour or sprinkle water over (a plant or area) in order to encourage plant growth

Petroleum.

(of a person's eyes) fill with tears

A petroleum derivative, such as a machine oil or lubricant.

Dilute or adulterate (a drink, typically an alcoholic one) with water

A protective or cosmetic liquid applied to the skin or hair.

Increase (a company's debt, or nominal capital) by the issue of new shares without a corresponding addition to assets.

Oil paint.

A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid, H2O, essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents. Freezing point 0°C (32°F); boiling point 100°C (212°F); specific gravity (4°C) 1.0000; weight per gallon (15°C) 8.338 pounds (3.782 kilograms).

A painting done in oil paint.

Any of various forms of water

To lubricate, supply, cover, or polish with oil.

Often waters Naturally occurring mineral water, as at a spa.

Liquid fat.

A body of water such as a sea, lake, river, or stream.

Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel or lubricant.

Waters A particular stretch of sea or ocean, especially that of a state or country

Petroleum

A supply of water

(countable) An oil painting.

A water supply system.

(painting) Oil paint.

Any of the fluids normally secreted from the body, such as urine, perspiration, tears, or saliva.

(attributive) Containing oil, conveying oil; intended for or capable of containing oil.

A fluid present in a body part in abnormal quantities as a result of injury or disease

(transitive) To lubricate with oil.

The fluid surrounding a fetus in the uterus; amniotic fluid.

(transitive) To grease with oil for cooking.

An aqueous solution of a substance, especially a gas

Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc. They are of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin and of varied composition, and they are variously used for food, for solvents, for anointing, lubrication, illumination, etc. By extension, any substance of an oily consistency; as, oil of vitriol.

A wavy finish or sheen, as of a fabric or metal.

To smear or rub over with oil; to lubricate with oil; to anoint with oil.

The valuation of the assets of a business firm beyond their real value.

A slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water

Stock issued in excess of paid-in capital.

Oil paint used by an artist

The transparency and luster of a gem.

Any of a group of liquid edible fats that are obtained from plants

A level of excellence.

Cover with oil, as if by rubbing;

To pour or sprinkle water on; make wet

Administer an oil or ointment to ; often in a religious ceremony of blessing

To give drinking water to.

To lead (an animal) to drinking water.

To dilute or weaken by adding water

To give a sheen to the surface of (fabric or metal).

To increase (the number of shares of stock) without increasing the value of the assets represented.

To irrigate (land).

To produce or discharge fluid, as from the eyes.

To salivate in anticipation of food

To take on a supply of water, as a ship.

To drink water, as an animal.

(uncountable) A substance (of molecular formula H₂O) found at room temperature and pressure as a clear liquid; it is present naturally as rain, and found in rivers, lakes and seas; its solid form is ice and its gaseous form is steam.

The liquid form of this substance: liquid H₂O.

(countable) A serving of liquid water.

The aforementioned liquid, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.

Water in a body; an area of open water.

A body of water, almost always a river.

A combination of water and other substance(s).

Mineral water.

Spa water.

(pharmacy) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.

Urine.

Amniotic fluid or the amniotic sac containing it. Used only in the plural in the UK but often also in the singular in North America. (The Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary says "often used in plural; also: bag of waters".)

Fluids in the body, especially when causing swelling.

A state of affairs; conditions; usually with an adjective indicating an adverse condition.

A person's intuition.

Excess valuation of securities.

The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially a diamond.

A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc.

(transitive) To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).

(transitive) To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate.

(transitive) To provide (animals) with water for drinking.

(intransitive) To get or take in water.

To urinate onto.

(transitive) To dilute.

To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive accounting.

(intransitive) To fill with or secrete water.

(transitive) To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines.

The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc.

A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water.

Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp., the urine.

A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water.

The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence.

An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted."

To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.

To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses.

To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken.

To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water.

To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water.

Binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

The part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean);

Facility that provides a source of water;

Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

Liquid excretory product;

A fluid necessary for the life of most animals and plants;

Supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams;

Provide with water;

Secrete or form water, as tears or saliva;

Fill with tears;