lubricant
lubricant Lexical Profile
lubricant Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A substance, such as oil, grease, or silicone, applied to surfaces to reduce friction and allow smooth movement.
"The mechanic sprayed a specialized lubricant on the rusty gears to free the seized mechanism."
Something that lessens conflict or facilitates smooth interactions between people or groups.
"A shared sense of humor often acts as a social lubricant in otherwise tense professional negotiations."
• adjective
Having the capacity to reduce friction and make surfaces smooth or slippery.
"The engineers applied a lubricant coating to protect the machinery's internal components from premature wear."
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.