(lubricants)
1.
A lubricant is a substance which you put on the surfaces or parts of something, especially something mechanical, to make the parts move smoothly.
Its nozzle was smeared with some kind of lubricant.
...industrial lubricants.
N-MASS
2.
If you refer to something as a lubricant in a particular situation, you mean that it helps to make things happen without any problems.
I think humor is a great lubricant for life.
N-COUNT: usu supp N