LUBRICANT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

Table of Contents

lubricant lubricant in British English lubricant in American English lubricant in American English Examples of 'lubricant' in a sentence COBUILD Collocations References

COBUILD frequency band

lubricant

(luːbrɪkənt )

Word forms: plural lubricants

1.variable noun

A lubricant is a substance which you put on the surfaces or parts of something, especially something mechanical, to make the parts move smoothly.

Its nozzle was smeared with some kind of lubricant.

...industrial lubricants.

2.countable noun

If you refer to something as a lubricant in a particular situation, you mean that it helps to make things happen without any problems.

I think humor is a great lubricant for life. [+ for]

More Synonyms of lubricant

lubricant in British English

(ˈluːbrɪkənt )

noun

a lubricating substance, such as oil

adjective

serving to lubricate

Word origin

C19: from Latin lūbricāns, present participle of lūbricāre. See lubricate

COBUILD frequency band

lubricant in American English

(ˈlubrɪkənt )

adjective

reducing friction by providing a smooth film as a covering over parts that move against each other; lubricating

noun

a substance for reducing friction in this way, as oil or grease

Word origin

L lubricans, prp.: see lubricate

COBUILD frequency band

lubricant in American English

(ˈluːbrɪkənt)

noun

a substance, as oil or grease, for lessening friction, esp. in the working parts of a mechanism

adjective

capable of lubricating; used to lubricate

Word origin

[1815–25; ‹ L lūbricant- (s. of lūbricāns), prp. of lūbricāre to make slippery. See lubric, -ant]

Examples of 'lubricant' in a sentence

lubricant

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Humour is a social lubricant which can help to forge relationships and strengthen existing ones.

Paul Martin MAKING HAPPY PEOPLE (2005)

Don't be afraid to use lubricant in industrial quantities.

Times, Sunday Times (2007)

The commonest lubricant is oil, used in all car engines to reduce friction and wear.

Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)

Zinc oxide is the body's natural lip lubricant.

The Sun (2010)

A small dose of inflation acts as an economic lubricant.

Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Modest and stable inflation acts as an economic lubricant, it gets consumers to spend and businesses to invest in anticipation of future demand.

Times, Sunday Times (2015)

That's why drinks are used as a social lubricant - to put people at their ease.

Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)

In the absence of a profit drive, this is a simple but effective social lubricant, helping to avoid hardship caused by unexpected expenses.

Times, Sunday Times (2011)

A dose of modestly positive and stable inflation acts as an economic lubricant, encouraging consumers to spend and businesses to invest in anticipation of that demand.

Times, Sunday Times (2016)

COBUILD Collocations

lubricant

lubricant oil

References

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lubricant