greasy

/ˈɡriːsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡriːsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrē-sē -zē/ (ame, mw)

greasy — adjective

  • greasypositive
  • greasiercomparative
  • greasiestsuperlative

1. Having a slippery layer of grease on the surface, so that the object feels slick

1.形容詞B1
釋義

Having a slippery layer of grease on the surface, so that the object feels slick when touched and marks anything it rubs against.

例句

The mechanic wiped his greasy hands on a rag before picking up his phone.

collocation: greasy hands

After fixing the bicycle chain, Minh noticed greasy marks on his new T-shirt.

同義詞
  • oily

    Common synonym, but 'oily' covers a wider range — it can describe natural oil (olive oil, skin oil) while 'greasy' leans toward heavy, dirty residue.

  • smeary

    Less common; emphasizes the messy marks left behind rather than the oil content itself.

  • slick

    Focuses on the slippery feel of the surface rather than the presence of grease.

反義詞
  • clean

    Free of grease or dirt.

  • dry

    Without moisture or oil on the surface.

文法句型

greasy + noun

be/get greasy

用法筆記

Frequently modifies concrete nouns for objects that pick up oil through contact: hands, tools, engine parts, work surfaces. The oily residue is usually transferred from another source rather than being an inherent property of the object.

常見錯誤

❌My hair feels greasy after using this shampoo
✅My hair feels oily after using this shampoo
💡'greasy' for hair or skin suggests unwashed dirt, while 'oily' is the neutral term for natural oil production.

2. Describing food that has been cooked in or contains a large amount of oil or fat

2.形容詞B1
釋義

Describing food that has been cooked in or contains a large amount of oil or fat, so that it feels heavy and leaves a visible layer of oil behind.

例句

The diner served greasy fries that left oil spots on the paper plate.

greasy + food noun (fries, pizza, bacon, meal)

Hamza avoided greasy snacks before his evening run because they made him feel slow.

同義詞
  • oily

    Broader and more neutral; can describe good oil (olive oil, fish oil) whereas 'greasy' almost always criticizes.

  • fatty

    More specific to animal fat rather than cooking oil; used for cuts of meat, not fried foods.

  • rich

    Positive alternative; describes indulgent, creamy, or buttery food without negative judgment.

反義詞
  • light

    Describes food that is easy to digest and low in fat.

  • healthy

    Describes food that is good for you, opposite of greasy fried food.

文法句型

greasy + food noun

taste/be/look greasy

用法筆記

Carries a negative judgment about the amount of fat in food. Avoid using for high-quality olive oil or delicate vinaigrettes — use 'oily' instead. Not used for the natural oiliness of skin, hair, or manufactured products.

常見錯誤

❌This salad dressing tastes greasy
✅This salad dressing tastes oily
💡'greasy' implies unpleasant heavy fat; lighter oil dressings take 'oily'.