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

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

The only singer, Carol Woods, steered a careful middle course between restraint and bawdy lubricity.

From New York Times

Nor can I see the object of modernising the "Stomach Dance," save to impart an extra dose of lubricity into the subject.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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