Lubricate

OILUP

"Here’s a helpful hint for the clue "Lubricate" with the answer "OILUP": "It starts with what you might apply to a squeaky hinge." This hint guides the solver toward the base word ("OIL") without giving away the full answer or repeating the original clue. It also subtly suggests the action implied by the wordplay ("UP")."

The clue "Lubricate" leads to the answer "OILUP" through a combination of definition and wordplay. Definition: "Lubricate" means to apply oil or grease to something, which directly suggests "OIL" as a key component.