lubricated
lubricated — verb
1. to put oil, grease, or another slick substance onto a surface or moving part so
to put oil, grease, or another slick substance onto a surface or moving part so that it slides easily and does not stick or wear down.
Ari lubricated the squeaky door hinge with a few drops of olive oil.
lubricate + [object] with [substance]
Before the long ride, the cyclists lubricated their bike chains with fresh wax.
common collocation: lubricate the chain
Minho lubricated the sliding garage door so it would open without sticking.
The chefs lubricated the cake tin with butter before pouring in the batter.
Sumin lubricated the rusty lock and the key finally turned without scraping.
文法句型
lubricate + [object]
用法筆記
Object is usually a mechanical part or surface where friction is a problem (hinges, chains, gears, locks). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense focuses on the surface receiving the slick coating, often with 'with [substance]'.
常見錯誤
2. to service a machine or system by adding the proper oil or grease as part of rou
to service a machine or system by adding the proper oil or grease as part of routine maintenance, treating the whole device rather than one slick coating.
Sahil lubricated the old printing press every Friday afternoon at the workshop.
scheduled maintenance routine
Aylin trained the apprentices to lubricate the gearbox at every twenty-thousand-kilometre service.
lubricate as part of a service schedule
Christopher carefully lubricated his grandfather's antique clock so it would keep ticking for another year.
Devika lubricated the sewing machine before starting the new batch of school uniforms.
The technicians lubricated the wind turbine bearings during the autumn shutdown week.
文法句型
lubricate + [machine/system]
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person doing maintenance, often a technician or mechanic. Distinguish from sense 1: here the object is the whole machine being serviced (engine, clock, gearbox), not a single surface like a hinge.
常見錯誤
3. (of a fluid, gel, or other slick substance) to do the work of reducing friction
(of a fluid, gel, or other slick substance) to do the work of reducing friction between two surfaces that are rubbing against each other.
Eye drops lubricate well, so Roya can wear her contact lenses all day without discomfort.
subject is a substance, not a person
The fluid in our knee joints lubricates so smoothly that João can run for hours.
common register: how a substance does its job
Cheap motor oil stops lubricating once the engine gets really hot, which damages the parts.
Saliva lubricates as Élise chews, helping the bread slide down her throat.
Modern silicone grease lubricates better than the old petroleum products the factory used to buy.
- ease
broader; can describe figurative friction too
文法句型
[substance] + lubricates
用法筆記
Subject is the slick substance itself (oil, saliva, synovial fluid). No direct object. Distinguish from sense 1 and 2 where a person lubricates a thing; here the substance does the lubricating on its own.
常見錯誤
lubricated — adjective
1. humorous slang describing someone who has had enough alcohol to feel cheerful an
humorous slang describing someone who has had enough alcohol to feel cheerful and chatty, but is not yet fully drunk.
By the third toast at the wedding, Quinn was thoroughly lubricated and ready to give a speech.
be + thoroughly + lubricated
Lucía noticed her shy colleagues only relaxed once they were a bit lubricated at the office party.
a bit lubricated, informal register
After two glasses of red wine, Baraka grew comfortably lubricated and started telling old jokes.
The guests, well lubricated by the open bar, sang loudly all the way home.
文法句型
be lubricated
用法筆記
Used in informal, often humorous contexts. Typically appears after 'be' as a predicative adjective and combines with adverbs like 'thoroughly', 'a bit', 'well', or 'comfortably'. Avoid in formal writing.