lubricate

[ loo-bri-keyt ]

/ ˈlu brɪˌkeɪt /

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See synonyms for: lubricate / lubrication / lubricative on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), lu·bri·cat·ed, lu·bri·cat·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), lu·bri·cat·ed, lu·bri·cat·ing.

to act as a lubricant.

to apply a lubricant to something.

Slang. to drink or become drunk.

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Origin of lubricate

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin lūbricātus, past participle of lūbricāre “to make slippery.” See lubric, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM lubricate

lu·bri·ca·tion, nounlu·bri·ca·tion·al, adjectivelu·bri·ca·tive, adjectivelu·bri·ca·to·ry

[loo-bri-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ˈlu brɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective

non·lu·bri·cat·ing, adjectiveo·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, nounre·lu·bri·cate, verb (used with object), re·lu·bri·cat·ed, re·lu·bri·cat·ing.re·lu·bri·ca·tion, nounself-lu·bri·cat·ed, adjectiveself-lu·bri·cat·ing, adjectiveself-lu·bri·ca·tion, nounun·lu·bri·cat·ed, adjectiveun·lu·bri·cat·ing, adjectiveun·lu·bri·ca·tive, adjective

Words nearby lubricate

Lübke, Lublin, lubra, lubric, lubricant, lubricate, lubrication, lubricator, lubricious, lubricity, lubricous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lubricate in a sentence

Rub this cream inside your chamois or bike shorts to help keep things lubricated, which prevents chafing and hot spots.
The Gear That Got Me Through My First Bike Tour|agintzler|November 23, 2021|Outside Online
There could also be fluids that lubricate the fault, decreasing friction and making it easier for the plates to slip past each other.
What can ‘silent earthquakes’ teach us about the next Big One?|JoAnna Wendel|November 11, 2021|Science News For Students
First and foremost, it’s important to keep your belt lubricated to keep it functioning at optimal use and stave off repairs.
The best treadmills for walking and running all year round|Chelsea Frank|October 13, 2021|Popular-Science
Enthusiasts often build their own boards and nerd out over things like lubricating the switches for a perfectly silky feel.
The best keyboards to upgrade your computer setup|Jasmine Harding|October 1, 2021|Popular-Science

Even a well lubricated chain-drive model will be louder than a belt-drive or wall-mounted garage door opener.
Best garage door opener for your home|Irena Collaku|August 23, 2021|Popular-Science
Beauty, fame, It Girl status, and old money (never new) all lubricate the entry process.
Inside London’s Hottest Celebrity Haunt—But How Long Will Chiltern Firehouse Burn?|Lizzie Crocker|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This oil was used to lubricate the anemometer and other instruments exposed outside.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
Lubricate the embossed cams in the cam housing with a thin film of vaseline every fifty hours of actual running.
Aviation Engines|Victor Wilfred Pag
Lubricate the stopper and insert it in the mouth of the jar, with the handle in a line with the two side tubes.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre
When the pressure on the pin or any bearing is over 800 pounds per square inch, oil is no longer able to lubricate it properly.
Farm Engines and How to Run Them|James H. Stephenson
The next operation after moulding the bullets is to lubricate them.
Pistol and Revolver Shooting|A. L. A. Himmelwright

British Dictionary definitions for lubricate

lubricate

/ (ˈluːbrɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

(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

Derived forms of lubricate

lubrication, nounlubricational, adjectivelubricative, adjective

Word Origin for lubricate

C17: from Latin lūbricāre, from lūbricus slippery

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

lubricate

Origin of lubricate

OTHER WORDS FROM lubricate

Words nearby lubricate

Words related to lubricate

How to use lubricate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lubricate

Derived forms of lubricate

Word Origin for lubricate