Meaning & use
self-lubricating
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Designed or made so that it reduces its own friction, without needing oil or grease to be added from outside.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a self-lubricating bearing.
Patterns
- a self-lubricating bearing
- self-lubricating material
The self-lubricating bearings in the fan last for years without maintenance.
Engineers chose a self-lubricating plastic for the moving parts.
A self-lubricating chain saves time because nobody has to oil it.
adjectivenot comparablebiology
Producing its own natural moisture or slipperiness, as some body surfaces do.
Grammar: A broader, less common use, usually in biology or medicine.
Patterns
- a self-lubricating surface
Cartilage is a nearly self-lubricating surface inside the joint.
The self-lubricating nature of the tissue reduces wear.
Some skins of fish are self-lubricating, helping them glide through water.
Common combinations
- self-lubricating bearing
- A self-lubricating bearing was fitted to the hinge.
- self-lubricating plastic
- The gears are made from self-lubricating plastic.
- self-lubricating material
- Self-lubricating material reduces the need for oil.
- self-lubricating chain
- The bike uses a self-lubricating chain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- oil-free
- Oil-free simply means no oil is needed, while self-lubricating says that the part itself reduces friction.
- maintenance-free
- Maintenance-free is broader and can apply to anything needing no upkeep, not only lubrication.
- friction-reducing
- Friction-reducing describes any design that lowers friction, whereas self-lubricating implies it needs no added lubricant.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: self-lubricating or self-cleaning?
self-lubricating vs self-cleaning
Self-cleaning describes a surface that removes dirt by itself, which is unrelated to reducing friction.
Practice
The motor uses ____ bearings, so nobody has to add oil during its ten-year life.
Choose one answer.
Self-lubricating bearings reduce friction by themselves. Self-sealing is tempting because it also suggests low maintenance, but it describes stopping leaks.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “self-lubricating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.