grease

1 of 2

noun

ˈgrēs How to pronounce grease (audio)
Synonyms of greasenext
1
a
: rendered animal fat
b
: oily matter
c
: a thick lubricant
2
: wool as it comes from the sheep retaining the natural oils or fats
greaseless
ˈgrēs-ləs How to pronounce grease (audio)
adjective
greaseproof
ˈgrēs-ˈprüf How to pronounce grease (audio)
adjective
see also:
in the grease

grease

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrēs How to pronounce grease (audio) ˈgrēz How to pronounce grease (audio)
greased; greasing

transitive verb

1
: to smear or daub with grease
2
: to lubricate with grease
3
: to soil with grease
4
: to hasten the process or progress of
also : facilitate
see also:
grease the hand of

Synonyms of grease

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of grease in a Sentence

Verb Grease the pan before you put the cake batter in. make sure you grease the pan before you put the batter in
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Even a small dribble of water can make grease pop and leave you with burns. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026 Heavy grease and dust accumulation was on the makeup air return ducts and on ceiling tiles. — Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
Rectitude is a hindrance in the game of electoral politics, where money greases the slippery pole and glad-hands welcome the winner with inside information. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 Casseroles that bubble over and onto the racks and the holiday turkey that spatters grease all over the inside of your oven can make the need for cleaning more urgent. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grease

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English grese, from Anglo-French gresse, greisse, creisse, from Vulgar Latin *crassia, from Latin crassus fat

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grease was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing grease

Rhymes for grease

See All Rhymes for grease

Browse Nearby Words

GRE
grease
greaseball
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grease. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

grease

1 of 2 noun
ˈgrēs How to pronounce grease (audio)
1
: melted animal fat
2
: oily matter
3
: a thick lubricant

grease

2 of 2 verb
ˈgrēs How to pronounce grease (audio) ˈgrēz How to pronounce grease (audio)
greased; greasing
1
: to smear with grease
2
: to lubricate with grease
greaser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on grease

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grease

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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