it's not a good idea to use olive oil to lubricate the gears in an appliance
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Estrogen keeps everything in these areas healthy, lubricated, and moist, and even preserves the skin’s thickness.—Erica Sweeney, SELF, 20 June 2025 Spirits can offer protection to homes and businesses, ensure a fruitful year or safeguard the health of friends and loved ones — a sip of the Champagne of fruit sodas lubricating these prayers of course.—Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025 Or, as Philadelphia Eagles fans would have it, go lubricate the lampposts with the tears of their vanquished rivals.—Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025 Some will lubricate the digestive tract, helping prevent a buildup of hair, others are laxative that keeps the passages flowing.—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lubricate
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin lūbricātus, past participle of lūbricāre "to make slippery," derivative of lūbricus "slippery, hard to hold, liable to lead to false steps, hazardous" — more at sleeve
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