- a colorless, oily, almost tasteless, water-insoluble liquid, usually of either a standard light density (light mineral oil ) or a standard heavy density (heavy mineral oil ), consisting of mixtures of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum by distillation: used chiefly as a lubricant, in the manufacture of cosmetics, and in medicine as a laxative.
- any oil of mineral origin, esp petroleum
- a colourless almost tasteless oily liquid obtained by petroleum distillation and used as a laxative
