lubricate
verb (used with object)
to apply some oily or greasy substance to (a machine, parts of a mechanism, etc.) in order to diminish friction; oil or grease (something).
were lubricating
-
past progressiveof lubricate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scientists studying the phenomenon found that the fluids were lubricating the fault boundaries, allowing them to slip past each other.
From Time Magazine Archive
