From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoilsoils[plural]AVP paints that contain oil SYN oil paintsin oils I usually paint in oils (=using oils). → oil
Examples from the Corpus
in oils• I consider myself a cartoonist in oils.• Mostly I paint in oils.• The ambitious show includes paintings in oils and acrylics, and monotypes on paper.• It's absurd, these days, like submitting a portrait in oils with your passport application.• The first is a formal portrait in oils by Thomas King, completed sometime be-tween October 1765 and March 1766.• Oddly enough, however, ethanol is also soluble in oils and fats.• The copal was heat treated to make it soluble in oils and solvents.• This full-size version in oils was done by Leonardo's assistants in his studio around 1510.• She works in oils and, among other things, paints about a dozen portraits a year, charging £400 upwards. 