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lubricateto put oil or grease on something so that it moves more easily

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to put oil or grease on something so that it moves more easily

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/

Example Sentences

  • My dad spent all morning lubricating his squeaky bicycle, but it still sounds like a dying whale.
  • The mechanic said I need to lubricate my car's engine regularly.
  • She forgot to lubricate the door hinges, so now everyone knows when she sneaks out at night.

lubricate

VERB

[/ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/]

to put oil or grease on something so that it moves more easily

The mechanic lubricates the rusty gears until they spin smoothly again.
💡 Concept

The mechanic lubricates the rusty gears until they spin smoothly again.

Lube, Ricky ate! — now everything slides smooth and great!
🧠 Mnemonic

Lube, Ricky ate! — now everything slides smooth and great!

Lubricate to communicate, no need to fabricate!
🎵 Rhyme

Lubricate to communicate, no need to fabricate!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/

🌳Etymology

Rootlubric
Suffix-ate

Origin

From Latin 'lubricatus', the past participle of 'lubricare', meaning 'to make smooth or slippery'. This derives from 'lubric-' meaning 'smooth' or 'slippery', related to 'lubrum' (ointment).

Breakdown

lubric- (smooth, slippery) + -ate (verb suffix, to make or cause) = lubricate (to make smooth by applying oil or grease)

🎵Rhyme

fabricatecommunicateduplicate
fabricate
communicate
duplicate

🔗Collocations

lubricate machinery
lubricate the engine
lubricate moving parts
properly lubricated
lubricate joints
well-lubricated

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My dad spent all morning lubricating his squeaky bicycle, but it still sounds like a dying whale.

The mechanic said I need to lubricate my car's engine regularly.

😄 Fun example

She forgot to lubricate the door hinges, so now everyone knows when she sneaks out at night.

Regular exercise helps lubricate your joints and keep them flexible.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

oilgreasemoisturizesmoothslick

Antonyms

dryroughfriction

Related

lubricantlubricationslipperysmoothgrease

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