verb
vaseline
VA-suh-leen
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.”
verb
1
To smear or coat something with Vaseline (petroleum jelly), often to lubricate or waterproof it.
"He vaselined the hinges so they would stop squeaking."
"Swimmers sometimes vaseline their skin before a long open-water race."
"Even at this late date, vaselining will preserve the best of these leathers."
How to use vaseline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo use Vaseline brand petroleum jelly on something, as a verb.
Common mistake
Vaseline is a trademark, so it is capitalized as a noun; using it as a lowercase verb (as here) is informal.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- vaselines
- Past tense
- vaselined
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.
Class of 1872
vaseline joined the language around 1872.
See the full Class of 1872 →
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.
