Meaning & use

lubricant

noun·Academic

A substance, such as oil or grease, applied to surfaces to reduce friction between them.

See it in a sentence

Mechanics apply lubricant to the engine's moving parts to prevent excessive wear.

A few drops of lubricant stopped the door hinge from squeaking loudly.

A note on using this word

Lubricant is used both literally for machinery and, informally, for anything that helps a process go more smoothly, as in a social lubricant.

Words with a similar meaning

greaseoil

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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