lubricantnoun [ C or U ]
uk/ˈluː.brɪ.kənt/us/ˈluː.brə.kənt/informal lube,a liquid such as oil that is used to make the parts of an engine move easily together, or a substance put on any surface to help it move more easily against another one
Examples from literature
- Right now, most industrial lubricants are made with oil, but because using oil in this way is not good for the environment,inventors are developing water-based lubricants.
- Water is also used in industry as a lubricant – something that can help prevent machines from wearing out when their parts move against each other.