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Meaning & use

lube

noun, verb·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/luːb/
US/luːb/

Meanings

  1. noununcountableinformal

    A slippery oil or gel put on parts to help them move smoothly; short for lubricant.

    Grammar: Usually uncountable: some lube.

    Put a little lube on the squeaky hinge.

    The mechanic reached for the lube.

  2. verbtransitiveinformal

    To apply oil or grease to something so it moves smoothly.

    Grammar: Takes an object, sometimes with up.

    Patterns

    • lube something
    • lube something up

    He lubed the bike chain before the ride.

    Lube up the lock if it sticks.

Word forms

third person singularlubes
past tenselubed
past participlelubed
-ing formlubing

Common combinations

chain lube
Chain lube keeps the bicycle quiet.
a drop of lube
Add a drop of lube.
apply lube
Apply lube to the track.
silicone lube
Silicone lube works well on plastic parts.

Synonyms and how they differ

lubricant
Lubricant is the full formal word, suited to writing and manuals.
grease
Grease is thicker and stays put, while lube may be thin oil.
oil
Oil is a liquid, while lube can be gel or spray.

Word family

lubricate verb
to apply a lubricant
lubricant noun
a substance that reduces friction
lubrication noun
the act of lubricating

Commonly confused: lube or lobe?

lube vs lobe

A lobe is a rounded part, such as of an ear; lube sounds different and means a lubricant.

Practice

The door hinge squeaks, so I need to ___ it.

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