adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈʌŋ(k)t͡ʃʊəs/
Received-Pronunciation:/-tjʊəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəwəs/
General-American:/ˈʌŋ(k)(t)ʃəs/
CMU ARPABET:AH1 NG CH W AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: or other substance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Of an aroma or taste, or a beverage (such as coffee or wine) or food (such as gravy, meat, or sauce): having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour; lush, rich.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: savorous
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of soil: soft and sticky.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Of a person:
Complacent, self-satisfied, smug.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Of a person:
Profusely polite, especially in an insincere and unpleasant manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Late Middle English unctuous [and other forms], borrowed from Medieval Latin ūnctuōsus (“greasy, oily, unctuous”), from Latin ūnctum (“ointment; rich banquet; rich savoury dish”) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of; overly’ forming adjectives from nouns). Ūnctum is a noun use of the perfect passive participle of unguō (“to anoint; to smear with oil, to grease or oil”), from Proto-Indo-European *h3engw- (“to anoint; to smear”). Cognates * Italian untuoso * Old French onctües, unctueus, unctuose (modern French onctueux) * Portuguese unctuoso * Spanish untuoso
Across languages
Translations
65 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
օծ
(ōc)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Bulgarian:
мазен
(mazen)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Catalan:
untuós
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Catalan:
greixós
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Czech:
mastný
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Czech:
krémový
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Dutch:
olieachtig
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Dutch:
vettig
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Finnish:
öljyinen
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Finnish:
lipevä
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
French:
onctueux
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Georgian:
ზეთოვანი
(zetovani)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
German:
ölig
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
German:
schmierig
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Greek:
λιπαρός
(liparós)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Ancient Greek:
λῐπᾰρός
(lĭpărós)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Hebrew:
שַׁמְנוּנִי
(shamnuní)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Irish:
ungthach
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Italian:
untuoso
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Italian:
grasso
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Macedonian:
ма́слен
(máslen)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Macedonian:
ма́стен
(másten)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Marathi:
चिकण
(cikaṇ)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Polish:
oleisty
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Polish:
tłusty
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Portuguese:
untuoso
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Romanian:
onctuos
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Romanian:
slinos
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Russian:
масляни́стый
(masljanístyj)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Russian:
жи́рный
(žírnyj)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Sanskrit:
चिक्कण
(cikkaṇa)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Spanish:
untuoso
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Ukrainian:
ма́сляний
(másljanyj)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Ukrainian:
масни́й
(masnýj)
— of a liquid, etc.: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment — see also oily, greasy
Dutch:
romig
— of an aroma or taste, or a beverage or food: having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour — see also lush, rich
Dutch:
rijk
— of an aroma or taste, or a beverage or food: having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour — see also lush, rich
Finnish:
täyteläinen
— of an aroma or taste, or a beverage or food: having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour — see also lush, rich
Finnish:
tahmea
— of soil: soft and sticky
Bulgarian:
мазен
(mazen)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Bulgarian:
угоднически
(ugodničeski)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Chinese:
假空假死
(ké-khang-ké-sí)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Chinese:
假空假榫
(ké-khang-ké-sún, ké-khang-ké-sńg, kée-khang-kée-sún)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Chinese:
假空假氣 /假空假气
(ké-khang-ké-khùi)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Chinese Mandarin:
假惺惺
(jiǎxīngxīng)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Chinese Mandarin:
惺惺
(xīngxīng)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Czech:
úlisný
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Czech:
slizký
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Czech:
vtíravý
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Dutch:
vleierig
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Dutch:
zalvend
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Finnish:
lipevä
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Finnish:
liukas
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Finnish:
mairea
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
French:
patelin
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
French:
doucereux
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
French:
mielleux
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
German:
schmierig
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Ingrian:
lippiä
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Italian:
strisciante
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Japanese:
慇懃無礼
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Macedonian:
ли́гав
(lígav)
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Polish:
obłudny
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Portuguese:
melífluo
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Spanish:
untuoso
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner
Vietnamese:
ngọt xớt
— of a person: profusely polite, especially in an insincerely earnest and unpleasant manner