lubricate

verb

lu·​bri·​cate ˈlü-brə-ˌkāt 

lubricated; lubricating

transitive verb

1

: to make smooth or slippery

2

: to apply a lubricant to

intransitive verb

: to act as a lubricant

lubrication

ˌlü-brə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

lubricative

ˈlü-brə-ˌkā-tiv 

adjective

lubricator

ˈlü-brə-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• grease
• oil

Examples of lubricate in a Sentence

it's not a good idea to use olive oil to lubricate the gears in an appliance

Recent Examples on the Web

Toasts were drunk, although notably with orange juice given President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on excessive official consumption at the sort of functions that were once lubricated with plentiful bai jiu spirit. —Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Water regulates body temperature and lubricates your joints. —Rebecca Valdez, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025

For this test, a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for swelling, bleeding, and any prostate abnormalities. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 12 Sep. 2025

With the wheels lubricated by an August news release, a 9-3 Sooners team could glide into the playoff. —Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin lūbricātus, past participle of lūbricāre "to make slippery," derivative of lūbricus "slippery, hard to hold, liable to lead to false steps, hazardous" — more at sleeve

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for lubricate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

lubricate

verb

lu·​bri·​cate ˈlü-brə-ˌkāt 

lubricated; lubricating

1

: to make smooth or slippery

2

: to apply a lubricant to

lubricate a car

3

: to act as a lubricant

lubrication

ˌlü-brə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

lubricator

ˈlü-brə-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

lubricate

transitive verb

lu·​bri·​cate ˈlü-bri-ˌkāt 

lubricated; lubricating

: to make smooth, slippery, or oily in motion, action, or appearance

lubricate the eye

lubricate the skin

lubrication

ˌlü-brə-ˈkā-shən 

noun