---
title: lubricate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lubricate» in the school dictionary: To put oil, grease or another slippery stuff on parts of a machine so they move smoothly and do not rub or wear out. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lubricate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** oil, part, tears, you, Dad, parts · **What happens:** put, move, not rub, wear out, keep, lubricate · **To what, where:** oil, parts, part, eye, something, bike chain

<!-- .vabout -->
«lubricate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [lubricate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lubricate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To put oil, grease or another slippery stuff on parts of a machine so they move smoothly and do not rub or wear out.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:m1:1
# text = To put oil, grease or another slippery stuff on parts of a machine so they move smoothly and do not rub or wear out.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	advcl	_	_
3	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	grease	grease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
8	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
18	smoothly	smoothly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	do	do	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	aux	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
22	rub	rub	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	conj	_	_
25	out	out	ADP	RP	_	24	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | to-infinitive | oil *not said here* | oil and grease or another slippery stuff |  | parts of a machine |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent oil=Theme on part=Destination |
| 2 | **move** | present | oil |  |  |  |  | smoothly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **rub** | infinitive · do-support | oil *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **wear out** | infinitive | oil *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science, body — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To keep a part of the body moist and slippery so it moves easily, as tears lubricate the eye.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:m2:1
# text = To keep a part of the body moist and slippery so it moves easily, as tears lubricate the eye.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	moist	moist	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	lubricate	lubricate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive | part *not said here* | a part of the body |  |  |  | moist *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |
| 2 | **move** | present | part |  |  |  |  | easily *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **lubricate** | present | tears | the eye |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent eye=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something go more smoothly, like a talk or a deal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:m3:1
# text = To make something go more smoothly, like a talk or a deal.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	smoothly	smoothly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	deal	deal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | smoothly *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad lubricated my bike chain with oil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x1:1
# text = Dad lubricated my bike chain with oil.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lubricated	lubricate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lubricate** | past | Dad | my bike chain |  |  |  | with oil | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent chain=Destination with oil=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oil lubricates the engine so the parts do not grind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x2:1
# text = Oil lubricates the engine so the parts do not grind.
1	Oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lubricates	lubricate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	grind	grind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lubricate** | present | Oil | the engine |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent engine=Destination |
| 2 | **not** **grind** | present · do-support | the parts |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tears lubricate your eyes when you blink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x3:1
# text = Tears lubricate your eyes when you blink.
1	Tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lubricate	lubricate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	blink	blink	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lubricate** | present | Tears | your eyes |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent eye=Destination |
| 2 | **blink** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The squeaky gate stopped squeaking after we lubricated the hinges.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x4:1
# text = The squeaky gate stopped squeaking after we lubricated the hinges.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	squeaky	squeaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	squeaking	squeak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lubricated	lubricate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hinges	hinge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the squeaky gate |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **squeak** | gerund | the squeaky gate *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **lubricate** | past | we | the hinges |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent hinge=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our joints are lubricated by a special fluid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x5:1
# text = Our joints are lubricated by a special fluid.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	joints	joint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	lubricated	lubricate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fluid	fluid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lubricate** | present · passive | a special fluid | Our joints |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent subject=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the friction experiment, we lubricated the ramp with soapy water and the block slid faster.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x6:1
# text = In the friction experiment, we lubricated the ramp with soapy water and the block slid faster.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	friction	friction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lubricated	lubricate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ramp	ramp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	soapy	soapy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	slid	slide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lubricate** | past | we | the ramp |  | the friction experiment |  | with soapy water | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent ramp=Destination with water=Theme |
| 2 | **slide** | past | the block |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A little chat about football helped to lubricate the meeting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x7:1
# text = A little chat about football helped to lubricate the meeting.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	chat	chat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	lubricate	lubricate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | a little chat about football |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **lubricate** | to-infinitive | a little chat about football *not said here* | the meeting |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent meeting=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never lubricate brakes, or they will not grip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lubricate:x8:1
# text = Never lubricate brakes, or they will not grip.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	lubricate	lubricate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	brakes	brake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	grip	grip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **lubricate** | imperative | you *not said here* | brakes |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent brake=Destination |
| 2 | **not** **grip** | future | brakes *= brake* |  |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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