lubricate
to apply some oily or greasy substance to (a machine, parts of a mechanism, etc.) in order to diminish friction; oil or grease (something).
to make slippery or smooth; apply a lubricant to: to lubricate one's hands with a lotion.
to smooth over, as a difficulty or human relationship; ease: to lubricate the friction between enemies.
Slang. to provide with intoxicating drinks.
Slang. to bribe.
to act as a lubricant.
to apply a lubricant to something.
Slang. to drink or become drunk.
Origin of lubricate
1Other words from lubricate
- lu·bri·ca·tion, noun
- lu·bri·ca·tion·al, adjective
- lu·bri·ca·tive, adjective
- lu·bri·ca·to·ry [loo-bri-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ˈlu brɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective
- non·lu·bri·cat·ing, adjective
- o·ver·lu·bri·cate, verb (used with object), o·ver·lu·bri·cat·ed, o·ver·lu·bri·cat·ing.
- o·ver·lu·bri·ca·tion, noun
- re·lu·bri·cate, verb (used with object), re·lu·bri·cat·ed, re·lu·bri·cat·ing.
- re·lu·bri·ca·tion, noun
- self-lu·bri·cat·ed, adjective
- self-lu·bri·cat·ing, adjective
- self-lu·bri·ca·tion, noun
- un·lu·bri·cat·ed, adjective
- un·lu·bri·cat·ing, adjective
- un·lu·bri·ca·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use lubricate in a sentence
Sandell and Hamilton went round to Aerial Cove on the 25th to collect shells and to search for the missing lubricating oil.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas MawsonThe slides terminate in two lubricating cups designed for oiling the surfaces submitted to friction.
When a current is passed from a metal contact through certain chemical salts, a lubricating effect was noticeable.
Heroes of the Telegraph | J. MunroLight oils, such as kerosene and light lubricating oils seventy to eighty per cent.
Aviation Engines | Victor Wilfred PagThe lubricating system of the Thomas-Morse aviation engines, which is shown at Fig. 76, is typical of current practice.
Aviation Engines | Victor Wilfred Pag
British Dictionary definitions for lubricate
/ (ˈluːbrɪˌkeɪt) /
(tr) to cover or treat with an oily or greasy substance so as to lessen friction
(tr) to make greasy, slippery, or smooth
(intr) to act as a lubricant
Origin of lubricate
1Derived forms of lubricate
- lubrication, noun
- lubricational, adjective
- lubricative, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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