Definition
A substance that reduces friction between moving surfaces, making them slide more smoothly. Used in mechanical, automotive, and medical applications.
Etymology
From Latin 'lubricans,' present participle of 'lubricare' (to make slippery), from 'lubricus' (slippery, smooth). The word entered English in the early 19th century alongside industrial developments requiring mechanical lubrication.
Kelly Says
The word 'lubricant' comes from the same Latin root as 'lubricious,' meaning lascivious or lustful - both words share the idea of slipperiness! This linguistic connection reveals how our ancestors understood slipperiness as both a physical and moral quality, a metaphor that still surfaces in phrases like 'slippery character.'
Translations
ARالعربية
مادة تشحيم
mādda tashḥīm
CACatalà
lubricant
/lu.bri.kant/
CSČeština
mazivo
/mazivo/
DADansk
smøremiddel
/smœɐ̯məˈmɛl/
DEDeutsch
Schmiermittel
/ʃmiːɐ̯ˈmɪtl̩/
ELΕλληνικά
λίγτρο
/ˈliɣtro/
ESEspañol
lubricante
/luβɾiˈkante/
FISuomi
voiteluaine
/voiˈteluɑine/
FRFrançais
lubrifiant
/lybʁifjɑ̃/
HAHA
man shan fadi
/man ʃan fadi/
HUMagyar
kenőanyag
/kɛnøːɑɲɡ/
IDBahasa Indonesia
pelumas
/pəlu.mas/
ITItaliano
lubrificante
/lubriˈfiːkante/
MSBahasa Melayu
pelumas
/pəlu.mas/
NLNederlands
smeermiddel
/smeːrˈmɪdəl/
NONorsk
smøremiddel
/smœɾmɛl/
PTPortuguês
lubrificante
/luβɾi.fiˈkɐ̃tɨ/
RORomână
lubrifiant
/lu.bri.fi.ant/
SVSvenska
smörjmedel
/smœrjmeːdɛl/
SWKiswahili
mafuta ya mafuta
/ma.fu.tɑ jɑ ma.fu.tɑ/
TEతెలుగు
స్నిగ్ధత
/snigdhaṭa/
THไทย
น้ำมันหล่อลื่น
/náːm man lòː lɯ̂an/
TLTL
pampalubog
/pam.pɐˈlu.bog/
TRTürkçe
yağlayıcı
/jɑɣladʒɯ/
UKУкраїнська
змащування
zmaščuvannja
VITiếng Việt
chất bôi trơn
/tʃat˧˧ bɔi˧˧ tʰɔn˧˧/