grease

1 of 2

noun

ˈgrēs 

1

a

: rendered animal fat

b

: oily matter

c

: a thick lubricant

2

: wool as it comes from the sheep retaining the natural oils or fats

greaseless

ˈgrēs-ləs 

adjective

greaseproof

ˈgrēs-ˈprüf 

adjective

grease

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrēs  ˈgrēz 

greased; greasing

transitive verb

1

: to smear or daub with grease

2

: to lubricate with grease

3

: to soil with grease

4

: to hasten the process or progress of

also : facilitate

Phrases

in the grease

of wool or fur : in the natural uncleaned condition

grease the hand of or grease the palm of

: bribe

Synonyms

Verb

• lubricate
• oil
• slick
• wax

Examples of grease in a Sentence

Verb

Grease the pan before you put the cake batter in.

make sure you grease the pan before you put the batter in

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The endless sea, rolling, the dizziness, the same room, roaming around the same area, the noise, grease, high chances of multiple disasters. —Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

Costs are astronomical, rents and leases and construction costs and permits for grease traps. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025

Verb

McKinley worked quietly behind the scenes in his usual way to grease the skids for an annexation treaty. —Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025

The latter also perpetuates a reliance on extractive industries, keeping the metaphorical wheels greased on the fossil fuel industry rather than encouraging it to begin winding down. —Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English grese, from Anglo-French gresse, greisse, creisse, from Vulgar Latin *crassia, from Latin crassus fat

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grease

• a/the squeaky wheel gets the grease/oil
• elbow grease
• grease monkey
• grease pencil
• grease the hand of
• grease the palm of
• grease the wheels
• wool grease

Rhymes for grease

• cease
• crease
• fleece
• gees
• geese
• grece
• lease
• leese
• niece
• piece
• prese
• seis

Kids Definition

grease

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrēs 

1

: melted animal fat

2

: oily matter

3

: a thick lubricant

grease

2 of 2 verb

ˈgrēs  ˈgrēz 

greased; greasing

1

: to smear with grease

2

: to lubricate with grease

greaser noun