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Definition of lubricant

lubricant

/ˈluː.brɪ.kənt/
lu · bri · cant

Plural:lubricants
•
Adjective:lubricant
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lubricant Lexical Profile

lubricant Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A substance, such as oil, grease, or silicone, applied to surfaces to reduce friction and allow smooth movement.

Example

"The mechanic sprayed a specialized lubricant on the rusty gears to free the seized mechanism."


2

Something that lessens conflict or facilitates smooth interactions between people or groups.

Example

"A shared sense of humor often acts as a social lubricant in otherwise tense professional negotiations."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adjective

1

Having the capacity to reduce friction and make surfaces smooth or slippery.

Example

"The engineers applied a lubricant coating to protect the machinery's internal components from premature wear."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lubricant

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'lubricans', the present participle of 'lubricare' (to make slippery), which stems from 'lubricus' (slippery).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lubricant. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lubricant
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