vaseline
Vaseline (verb) means to smear or coat something with Vaseline (petroleum jelly), often to lubricate or waterproof it. Example: “He vaselined the hinges so they would stop squeaking.”
How to use vaseline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo use Vaseline brand petroleum jelly on something, as a verb.
Vaseline is a trademark, so it is capitalized as a noun; using it as a lowercase verb (as here) is informal.
Word forms
vaselined past tense, vaselines singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the hinges so they would stop squeaking.
Etymology
A trademark name combining German Wasser ("water") and Greek elaion ("oil"), registered by chemist Robert Chesebrough in 1872. It has since become genericized, the way "hoover" or "thermos" did.
Rhymes for vaseline
See all rhymes for vaseline →Frequently asked questions
What does “vaseline” mean?
The word “vaseline” means to smear or coat something with Vaseline (petroleum jelly), often to lubricate or waterproof it. In plain terms, to use Vaseline brand petroleum jelly on something, as a verb.
How do you pronounce “vaseline”?
“Vaseline” is pronounced VA-suh-leen (/ˈvæ.sə.lin/ in IPA).
How do you use “vaseline” in a sentence?
Here is “vaseline” used in a sentence: “He vaselined the hinges so they would stop squeaking.”
What part of speech is “vaseline”?
“Vaseline” is a verb.
Where does the word “vaseline” come from?
The word “vaseline” dates back to around 1872 and comes from German. A trademark name combining German Wasser ("water") and Greek elaion ("oil"), registered by chemist Robert Chesebrough in 1872. It has since become genericized, the way "hoover" or "thermos" did.