Looking up...
aceite
/aˈθeite/
oil
Necesito comprar aceite de oliva para cocinar.
I need to buy olive oil to cook.
neutral
A viscous liquid derived from plants, animals, or minerals, used as fuel, lubricant, or in cooking.
El aceite de girasol es muy común en la cocina española.
Sunflower oil is very common in Spanish cooking.
In Spanish, 'aceite' is often used generically for edible oils, while 'petróleo' refers specifically to crude oil.
Engineering
technical
A substance used to lubricate machinery.
Añade un poco de aceite al motor para que no se dañe.
Add some oil to the engine so it doesn’t get damaged.
In mechanical contexts, 'aceite' can refer to lubricating oil or motor oil.
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Gender and Plural
'Aceite' is masculine (el aceite) and its plural is 'aceites'. Example: 'Los aceites esenciales son muy concentrados.'
Gold Rule
Definite Article
In Spanish, 'aceite' almost always requires the definite article 'el' when referring to a specific type (e.g., 'el aceite de oliva'). Omitting it can sound unnatural in most contexts.
Word Origin
From Latin *acētum* (vinegar), via Vulgar Latin *acceitus*, which shifted semantically to 'oil' due to the oily consistency of certain substances.
Usage Notes
In Spanish, 'aceite' is masculine (el aceite). It is commonly used in cooking, especially in Mediterranean cuisine. Avoid confusing with 'aceituna' (olive) or 'aceituna' (olive tree).
Diccionario Español-Inglés