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grease

Syllabification: (grease)
Translate grease | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of grease

noun

Pronunciation: /grēs/

  • oily or fatty matter, in particular.
  • a thick oily substance used as a lubricant:axle grease
  • oil or fat used or produced in cooking.

verb

Pronunciation: /grēs, grēz/

[with object]
  • smear or lubricate with grease: (as adjective greased)place on a greased baking sheet

Phrases

grease the palm of

informal bribe (someone).

grease the skids

informal help matters run smoothly:his mission was to use his budgetary skills to grease the skids for new projects

grease (or British oil) the wheels

help something go smoothly:the money is inadequate to grease the wheels of recovery

like greased lightning

see lightning. informal extremely fast.

Derivatives

greaseless

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French graisse, based on Latin crassus 'thick, fat'

grease in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of grease in the British & World English dictionary