lubricate
/ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/ verb
Forms lubricates lubricating lubricated
- verb To make slippery or smooth (normally to minimize friction) by applying a lubricant. “If your bicycle chain is squeaking you should lubricate it.”
- verb (humorous) To cause someone to become drunk, especially to make them more sociable or talkative.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lūbricātus, perfect passive participle of lūbricō (“make slippery”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from lūbricus (“slippery”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *slewbʰ- (“slip, slide”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To make smooth or slippery; as, mucilaginous and saponaceous remedies lubricate the parts to which they are applied. S. Sharp.
- verb To apply a lubricant to, as oil or tallow.
Etymology [L. lubricatus, p. p. of lubricare to lubricate. See Lubric.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lubricate”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details