grease

The word “grease” means melted or soft animal fat, or any thick oily substance used for lubrication. In plain terms, a thick, oily, fatty substance, or the act of coating something with it — often used loosely for bribery too.

“Grease” is pronounced grees (/ɡɹis/ in IPA).

Here is “grease” used in a sentence: “She wiped the grease off the pan before washing it.”

Depending on how it is used, “grease” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “grease” comes from Latin. From Old French craisse/craisse ("fatness"), ultimately from Latin crassus, "thick" or "fat" — the same root that gives English the word crass.

“Grease” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Grease” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: melted or soft animal fat, or any thick oily substance used for lubrication.

Grease is typically a thicker, semi-solid substance, often derived from animal fat or made by combining oil with a thickening agent, while oil is a thinner liquid lubricant. Grease tends to stay in place better on moving parts, whereas oil flows more easily and is used where continuous lubrication is needed.

Informally, to "grease" someone means to bribe them, especially to secure quicker service or preferential treatment, as in the phrase "grease someone's palm." This figurative use extends from the literal idea of grease making things move more smoothly.

"Grease the wheels" is an informal idiom meaning to make a process go more smoothly, often by resolving obstacles or offering incentives. It would generally be avoided in strictly formal writing in favor of more direct language.