lubricant
LOO-brih-kuhnt
/ˈluː.brɪ.kənt/
A substance, such as oil, grease, or graphite, applied to minimize friction and wear between moving surfaces.
Lubricants can be liquid (oil), semi-solid (grease), or dry (powdered graphite), but their primary function is always friction reduction.
The story behind the word. Lubricant comes from the Latin 'lubricare', meaning 'to make slippery', which is derived from 'lubricus', meaning 'slippery'. This is also the source of the English word 'lubricious' (which can mean slippery or, metaphorically, salacious).
Word relationships
- grease: Grease is a specific, thick, semi-solid type of lubricant, whereas lubricant is the broad category including oils and dry powders.
- oil: Oil is a liquid lubricant, while lubricant can refer to any state of matter used to reduce friction.
- abrasive: An abrasive increases friction to wear down a surface, whereas a lubricant decreases friction to preserve it.
Commonly confused with
- coolant: A coolant is designed primarily to transfer heat away from a system, while a lubricant is designed to reduce the friction that generates heat in the first place.
Word family
- lubricate (verb): to apply a lubricant to
- lubrication (noun): the action of applying a lubricant
Collocations
- synthetic lubricant
- apply lubricant
- silicone lubricant
- dry lubricant
Example sentences
- "Apply a few drops of wet lubricant to the bicycle chain to keep the gears shifting smoothly in rainy weather." Bicycle maintenance
- "Without proper lubricant, the high-speed metal bearings in the engine would quickly overheat and seize." Mechanical engineering
Memory hook
Think of 'lubricant' making things 'loose' and 'fluid' so they slide without friction. Lubricants make things loose and slick.
When not to use
Do not use lubricant to describe adhesives or sealants, which are meant to bond or block movement rather than facilitate it.
Fun facts
- Ice is actually lubricated by a microscopic layer of liquid water created by pressure and friction, which is why ice skates slide so effortlessly.
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