óleo

Óleo is a Portuguese word that refers to oil in several senses. In general usage it denotes a viscous liquid of plant, animal, or mineral origin used for cooking, lubrication, and industrial applications. Edible oils are obtained from seeds or fruits by pressing or extraction and include olive oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil. They are used for frying, dressings, and baking, and their culinary properties—flavor, smoke point, and fatty-acid profile—guide their use. Non-edible oils such as mineral oil and various vegetable oils are used as lubricants, heat-transfer fluids, and in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Oils can be refined or processed to alter taste, odor, and stability, and are typically flammable, requiring careful storage and disposal.

In the arts, óleo denotes oil painting, a medium in which pigments are suspended in drying oils, most often linseed oil. This allows slow, long-lasting blending and rich color. Oil paintings are commonly made on canvas or wooden panels and may be built up with glazes and layers to achieve depth. The technique emerged in Europe in the 15th century and became central to Renaissance and later Western art, with artists such as Van Eyck, Rembrandt, and Turner.

The term Óleo thus covers both everyday liquids used in food and industry and a major artistic medium, with context determining its precise meaning.