noun
greaser
noun
1
Someone whose job involves applying grease, such as a mechanic.
"The greaser serviced every truck in the depot before dawn."
2
(informal, dated) A member of a rebellious youth subculture from the 1950s known for slicked-back, greased hair and leather jackets.
"The film painted the greasers as tough kids who rode motorcycles and loved rock and roll."
How to Use Greaser
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a mechanic-type worker who deals with grease, or a member of the leather-jacket, greased-hair 1950s subculture.
When to use it
The ethnic slang senses of this word are offensive and dated; avoid them entirely.
Word Forms
greasers plural, Greasers plural
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The _____ serviced every truck in the depot before dawn.
Etymology
From grease plus the suffix -er. The youth-culture sense comes from members slicking their hair back with pomade or grease.