oliare

to oil

verb oh-LYAH-reh Rare

Origin: From olio (oil), from Latin oleum.

Also means

to lubricate

Usage Note

Oliare means to apply oil to a mechanism or surface: oliare i cardini ('to oil the hinges'). Figuratively, oliare i meccanismi means 'to grease the wheels' of a system. The metaphorical extension to bribery (oliare qualcuno) exists but is informal. Takes avere as auxiliary.

Examples

"Devi oliare la catena della bicicletta."

Natural Translation

You need to oil the bicycle chain.

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