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

see also:

in the grease

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

see also:

grease the hand of

Synonyms of grease

Verb

• oil
• wax
• lubricate
• wet

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

Add in steam and grease from daily cooking and holiday feasts, and those dull cabinets could probably use a refresh. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026

Made in America, all formulas are grease-less and fragrance-free. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026

Verb

Maher stepped into this role, Rhule said, in part to grease the tracks for the 27-year-old Humphrey to eventually take the position. —Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026

Without taking away from Newsom’s work ethic, this memoir cannot help underlining how much his smooth upward assent has been greased by family connections. —Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026

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
• in the grease
• 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