grease

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: rendered animal fat
b
: oily matter
c
: a thick lubricant
2
: wool as it comes from the sheep retaining the natural oils or fats
greaseless adjective
greaseproof adjective

grease

2 of 2

verb

greased; greasing

transitive verb

1
: to smear or daub with grease
2
: to lubricate with grease
3
: to soil with grease
4
: to hasten the process or progress of
also : facilitate
Phrases
in the grease
of wool or fur : in the natural uncleaned condition
grease the hand of or grease the palm of
: bribe

Examples of grease in a Sentence

Verb Grease the pan before you put the cake batter in. make sure you grease the pan before you put the batter in
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Try simply wiping wet grease off with a paper towel or soft cloth. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025 In the 1940s, the U.S. military came to South-Central Memphis and disposed of waste such as oil, grease, and paint thinners into the soil; decades later, it was declared a superfund site. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
When making thin-crust pizzas, avoid oiling or greasing the pan; instead, sprinkle some cornmeal or semolina to prevent sticking. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025 Yes, subscriber numbers are important but these numbers can be greased via promotional activity or, as mentioned, just generally underpricing the service. Zev Fima, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grease

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English grese, from Anglo-French gresse, greisse, creisse, from Vulgar Latin *crassia, from Latin crassus fat

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grease was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grease. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

grease

1 of 2 noun
1
: melted animal fat
2
: oily matter
3
: a thick lubricant

grease

2 of 2 verb
greased; greasing
1
: to smear with grease
2
: to lubricate with grease
greaser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on grease

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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