Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

lubricate

/ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/ verb

In Latin: lūbricō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about lubricate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Have lubricating properties.
the liquid in this can lubricates well
Apply a lubricant to.
lubricate my car
Make slippery or smooth through the application of a lubricant.
lubricate the key

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word