lubricity

[ loo-bris-i-tee ]

noun

, plural lu·bric·i·ties.

1. oily smoothness, as of a surface; slipperiness.
2. ability to lubricate; capacity for lubrication:

   the wonderful lubricity of this new oil.

3. instability; shiftiness; fleeting nature:

   the lubricity of fame and fortune.

4. lewdness; lustfulness: lasciviousness; salaciousness.
5. something that arouses lasciviousness, especially pornography.

lubricity

/ luːˈbrɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. formal.
   lewdness or salaciousness
2. rare.
   smoothness or slipperiness
3. capacity to lubricate

Word History and Origins

Origin of lubricity¹

First recorded in 1485–95; earlier lubrycyte “lewdness,” from Medieval Latin lubricitās “lechery,” Late Latin: “slipperiness.” See lubric, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of lubricity¹

C15 (lewdness), C17 (slipperiness): from Old French lubricité, from Medieval Latin lubricitās, from Latin, from lūbricus slippery

Example Sentences

Sulfur in diesel contributes to what is called “lubricity,” or the ability of diesel to lubricate the parts it touches.

From Wall Street Journal

Biodiesel also affects fuel lubricity and must be accounted for before it can be marketed and sold.

From Wall Street Journal

"Second, the fuel must have the right boiling point distribution, and then it has to have properties called lubricity, which means it does not cause excessive wear of the turbine components. "It also has to have a very low pour point, which means the temperature at which the fuel becomes gelatinous and therefore no longer flows.

From BBC

This iKon slanted head is coated in Teflon for lubricity.

From Forbes

In close quarters he suffered their backwoods lubricity and knucklehead talk.

From Literature

Related Words

• four-letter word
• indecency
• pornography
• profanity
• smut
• vulgarity