grease

[n. grees; v. grees, greez] /n. gris; v. gris, griz/
noun
1.
the melted or rendered fat of animals, especially when in a soft state.
2.
fatty or oily matter in general; lubricant.
3.
Also called grease wool. wool, as shorn, before being cleansed of the oily matter.
4.
Also called grease-heel
[grees-heel] /ˈgrisˌhil/ (Show IPA). Veterinary Pathology. inflammation of a horse's skin in the fetlock region, attended with an oily secretion.
5.
Informal. a bribe.
verb (used with object), greased, greasing.
6.
to put grease on; lubricate:
to grease the axle of a car.
7.
to smear or cover with grease.
8.
to cause to occur easily; smooth the way; facilitate.
9.
Informal. to bribe.
Idioms
10.
grease someone's palm. palm1 (def 19).
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English grese, grece, greice < Anglo-French grece, gresse, Old French craisse (French graisse) < Vulgar Latin *crassia, equivalent to Latin crass(us) fat, thick + -ia noun suffix
Related forms
greaseless, adjective
greaselessness, noun
greaseproof, adjective
regrease, verb (used with object), regreased, regreasing.
ungreased, adjective
well-greased, adjective
Can be confused
grease, Greece.
Examples from the web for grease
  • Lumps may need a lot of elbow grease and a good whisk, but they can be banished.
  • Clean the trim around your window with a solution of mild dish detergent and water to remove dirt and grease.
  • The letter had apparently been kept in the tramp's pockets for a while and become stained with grease and tobacco crumbs.
  • Tons of rock has to be removed and grease-processed.
  • Shoes had to be polished, there must be no buttons off the clothing, and no grease-spots.
  • The grease paint withstands hot sun and water, but it is messy.
  • Spiegel was hungry and he offered him a month's luxurious living in return for his grease.
  • Except that there is nowhere near enough cooking grease to fulfill even a fraction of our diesel needs.
  • When the powder particles adhere to the grease or moisture forming the latent prints, it causes them to become visible.
  • So, enthusiasm for lofty goals can grease the wheels of inquiry-not to mention funding.
British Dictionary definitions for grease

grease

noun (ɡriːs; ɡriːz)
1.
animal fat in a soft or melted condition
2.
any thick fatty oil, esp one used as a lubricant for machinery, etc
3.
Also called grease wool. shorn fleece before it has been cleaned
4.
(vet science) Also called seborrhoea. inflammation of the skin of horses around the fetlocks, usually covered with an oily secretion
verb (transitive) (ɡriːz; ɡriːs)
5.
to soil, coat, or lubricate with grease
6.
to ease the course of: his education greased his path to success
7.
(slang) grease the palm of, grease the hand of, to bribe; influence by giving money to
Derived Forms
greaseless, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old French craisse, from Latin crassus thick
Word Origin and History for grease
n.

c.1300, from Anglo-French grece, from Old French gresse, craisse "grease, fat" (Modern French graisse), from Vulgar Latin *crassia "(melted) animal fat, grease," from Latin crassus "thick, solid, fat" (cf. Spanish grasa, Italian grassa). Grease paint, used by actors, attested from 1888. Grease monkey "mechanic" is from 1928.

v.

c.1300, from grease (n.). Sense of "ply with bribe or protection money" is 1520s, from notion of grease the wheels "make things run smoothly" (mid-15c.). To grease (someone's) palm is from 1580s. Expression greased lightning, representing something that goes very fast, is American English, by 1832.

Slang definitions & phrases for grease

grease

noun
  1. Money (1800s+)
  2. Bribe or protection money; money given for corrupt purposes: They get so much grease it takes them half a block just to change direction (1823+)
  3. Butter (WWII Army)
  4. Food (Persian Gulf War Army)
  5. A gun: You handled the grease real good, but not good enough, you didn't kill them
verb

To shoot, esp to kill by shooting: He has a gun and might try to grease you (WWII armed forces)

Related Terms

axle grease, elbow grease, grease someone's palm

[the verb to grease, ''to bribe,'' is found by 1557; last two senses fr greasegun, a WWII submachine gun]


Idioms and Phrases with grease

grease

also see:
Encyclopedia Article for grease

thick, oily lubricant consisting of inedible lard, the rendered fat of waste animal parts, or a petroleum-derived or synthetic oil containing a thickening agent

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