2 N‑COUNT If you refer to something as a lubricant in a particular situation, you mean that it helps to make things happen without any problems. □ [+ for ] I think humor is a great lubricant for life.
lu|bri|cate /luː br I ke I t/ (lubricates , lubricating , lubricated )
1 VERB If you lubricate something such as a part of a machine, you put a substance such as oil on it so that it moves smoothly. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Mineral oils are used to lubricate machinery. □ [V -ing] …lubricating oil. [Also V ] ● lu|bri|ca|tion /luː br I ke I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Use a touch of linseed oil for lubrication.
2 VERB If you say that something lubricates a particular situation, you mean that it helps things to happen without any problems. □ [V n] Franklin's task was to lubricate the discussions with the French.
lu|cerne /luːsɜː r n/ N‑UNCOUNT Lucerne is a plant that is grown for animals to eat and in order to improve the soil. [BRIT ] in AM, use alfalfa
lu|cid /luː s I d/
1 ADJ Lucid writing or speech is clear and easy to understand. □ …a lucid account of the history of mankind. □ His prose as always lucid and compelling. ● lu|cid|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Both of them had the ability to present complex matters lucidly. ● lu|cid|ity /luːs I d I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] His writings were marked by an extraordinary lucidity and elegance of style.
2 ADJ If someone is lucid , they are thinking clearly again after a period of illness or confusion. [FORMAL ] □ He wasn't very lucid, he didn't quite know where he was. ● lu|cid|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ The pain had lessened in the night, but so had his lucidity.
luck ◆◇◇ /lʌ k/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Luck or good luck is success or good things that happen to you, that do not come from your own abilities or efforts. □ [+ to-inf] I knew I needed a bit of luck to win. □ [+ with ] The Sri Lankans have been having no luck with the weather. □ The goal, when it came, owed more to good luck than good planning.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Bad luck is lack of success or bad things that happen to you, that have not been caused by yourself or other people. □ I had a lot of bad luck during the first half of this season. □ Randall's illness was only bad luck.
3 → see also hard luck
4 CONVENTION If you ask someone the question ' Any luck? ' or ' No luck? ', you want to know if they have been successful in something they were trying to do. [INFORMAL ] □ 'Any luck?'—'No.'
5 CONVENTION You can say ' Bad luck ', or ' Hard luck ', to someone when you want to express sympathy to them. [INFORMAL , FORMULAE ] □ Well, hard luck, mate.
6 PHRASE If you describe someone as down on their luck , you mean that they have had bad experiences, often because they do not have enough money.
7 CONVENTION If you say ' Good luck ' or ' Best of luck ' to someone, you are telling them that you hope they will be successful in something they are trying to do. [INFORMAL , FORMULAE ] □ He kissed her on the cheek. 'Best of luck!'
8 PHRASE You can say someone is in luck when they are in a situation where they can have what they want or need. □ You're in luck. The doctor's still in.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone is out of luck , you mean that they cannot have something which they can normally have. □ 'What do you want, Roy? If it's money, you're out of luck.'
10 PHRASE If you say that someone is pushing their luck , you think they are taking a bigger risk than is sensible, and may get into trouble. □ I didn't dare push my luck too far and did not ask them to sign statements.
11 PHRASE If someone tries their luck at something, they try to succeed at it, often when it is very difficult or there is little chance of success. □ She was going to try her luck at the Las Vegas casinos.
12 pot luck → see pot
lucki|ly /lʌ k I li/ ADV You add luckily to a statement to indicate that it is good that a particular thing happened or is the case because otherwise the situation would have been difficult or unpleasant. □ Luckily, we both love football. □ Luckily for me, he spoke very good English.
luck|less /lʌ kləs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as luckless , you mean that they are unsuccessful or unfortunate. [WRITTEN ] □ …the luckless parent of an extremely difficult child.
lucky ◆◇◇ /lʌ ki/ (luckier , luckiest )
1 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] You say that someone is lucky when they have something that is very desirable or when they are in a very desirable situation. □ I am luckier than most. I have a job. □ He is incredibly lucky to be alive. □ Those who are lucky enough to be wealthy have a duty to give to the hungry.
2 ADJ Someone who is lucky seems to always have good luck. □ Some people are born lucky aren't they? □ [+ at ] He had always been lucky at cards.
3 ADJ If you describe an action or experience as lucky , you mean that it was good or successful, and that it happened by chance and not as a result of planning or preparation. □ They admit they are now desperate for a lucky break. □ [+ that ] The man is very lucky that he had help so quickly.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A lucky object is something that people believe helps them to be successful. □ He did not have on his other lucky charm, a pair of green socks.
5 → see also happy-go-lucky
6 PHRASE If you say that someone will be lucky to do or get something, you mean that they are very unlikely to do or get it, and will definitely not do or get any more than that. □ You'll be lucky if you get any breakfast. □ Those remaining in work will be lucky to get the smallest of pay increases.