lubricant

[loo-bri-kuhnt]

noun

1. a substance, as oil or grease, for lessening friction, especially in the working parts of a mechanism.

adjective

1. capable of lubricating; used to lubricate.

lubricant

/ ˈluːbrɪkənt /

noun

1. a lubricating substance, such as oil

adjective

1. serving to lubricate

Other Word Forms

• nonlubricant noun
• unlubricant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lubricant¹

1815–25; < Latin lūbricant- (stem of lūbricāns ), present participle of lūbricāre to make slippery. See lubric, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of lubricant¹

C19: from Latin lūbricāns, present participle of lūbricāre. See _lubricate

Example Sentences

In late September, Germany’s Lufthansa signed a preliminary deal for a new oil that is billed as safer than existing lubricants, according to a spokesman.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That makes cooperation and cross-party compromise, an essential lubricant to the way Washington is supposed to work, all the more difficult to achieve.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One division that has been earmarked for sale is its lubricants business Castrol.

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In another, she asked for a "drop off" of seven bottles of baby oil and seven bottles of Astroglide lubricant alongside iced vanilla lattes.

Read more on BBC

Authorities notably seized narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant — among other findings — at Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles during the raids last year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coating