n.
  - a thick oily substance, especially as used as a lubricant.
 - animal fat used or produced in cooking.
 
v.
 smear or lubricate with grease.
 
  Phrase
  
    - grease the palm of
 informal bribe. 
[grease expressing the sense ‘cause to run smoothly’ and palm, by assoc. with the taking of money.]
  - grease the wheels 
(also the skids)
 informal, chiefly N. Amer. another way of saying oil the wheels (see oil).  - like greased lightning
 informal extremely rapidly. 
   
  Derivative
  
  Etymology
  ME: from OFr. graisse, based on L. crassus ‘thick, fat’.