grease

[grees, grees, greez]

noun

1. the melted or rendered fat of animals, especially when in a soft state.

   She always saves the bacon grease to fry her eggs and potatoes in.

2. fatty or oily matter in general; lubricant.

   The auto mechanic’s overalls were stained with engine grease and motor oil.

   The golfer admitted to using a little grease on the face of his driver to reduce sidespin.

3. Informal.,  a bribe.

4. Also called grease wool. shorn wool before being cleaned of the oily matter.

5. Also called grease-heel. Veterinary Pathology.,  inflammation of a horse's skin in the fetlock region, accompanied by an oily secretion.

verb (used with object)

greased, greasing 

1. to lubricate by putting a fatty or oily substance on.

   I think I need to grease my bike chain a little—it’s not moving smoothly.

2. to smear or cover with a fatty or oily substance.

   Grease the baking sheet before spooning the dough onto it.

   In pioneer days they sometimes made windows out of greased paper.

3. to cause to occur easily or smoothly; facilitate.

   Extra incentives were offered to grease the trade deal.

   If it looks like it’ll be an awkward social engagement, he has a stiff drink first to grease the proceedings.

4. Informal.,  to bribe.

grease

noun

1. animal fat in a soft or melted condition

2. any thick fatty oil, esp one used as a lubricant for machinery, etc

3. Also called: grease wool. shorn fleece before it has been cleaned

4. Also called: seborrhoea. vet science inflammation of the skin of horses around the fetlocks, usually covered with an oily secretion

verb

1. to soil, coat, or lubricate with grease

2. to ease the course of

   his education greased his path to success

3. slang,  to bribe; influence by giving money to

Other Word Forms

• greaseless adjective
• greaselessness noun
• greaseproof adjective
• regrease verb (used with object)
• ungreased adjective
• well-greased adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grease¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English grese, grece, greice from Anglo-French grece, gresse, Old French craisse ( French graisse ) from Vulgar Latin crassia (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin crass(us) fat, thick + -ia noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of grease¹

C13: from Old French craisse, from Latin crassus thick

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. grease (someone's) palm, to bribe.

   The only way to get a permit in this town is to grease the commissioner's palm.

More idioms and phrases containing grease

• elbow grease
• like greased lightning
• squeaky wheel gets the grease

Example Sentences

As a pre-teen, freshly sprung from an orthodontist’s chair, my idea of heaven was a Wendy’s fry — natural-cut, skins freckled along the edges, salt like tiny rhinestones clinging to grease — dunked into a chocolate Frosty.

From Salon

“In Northern industrial cities, Democratic party bosses built a new style of urban machine politics greased by the exchange of money and personal favors.”

From Salon

They are used for their grease and water repellence, but do not degrade quickly and have been linked to health issues such as higher risks of certain cancers and reproductive problems.

From BBC

"Mango diplomacy" is a familiar phrase across the subcontinent, where carefully chosen crates of the fruit can grease political deals, strengthen alliances or smooth over tense negotiations.

From BBC

Not all the work in this helicopter factory involves a spanner and engine grease.

From BBC

Related Words

• lard 
• lubricant 
• oil 
• vegetable oil