n.
- a thick oily substance, especially as used as a lubricant.
- animal fat used or produced in cooking.
v.
smear or lubricate with grease.
Phrase
- grease the palm of
informal bribe.
[grease expressing the sense ‘cause to run smoothly’ and palm, by assoc. with the taking of money.]
- grease the wheels
(also the skids)
informal, chiefly N. Amer. another way of saying oil the wheels (see oil). - like greased lightning
informal extremely rapidly.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. graisse, based on L. crassus ‘thick, fat’.
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