Built with care perhaps to avoid friction (9)
I believe the answer is:
lubricate
'to avoid friction' is the definition.
(lubrication helps avoid friction)
'built with care perhaps' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'built' put after 'care' is 'carebuilt'.
'carebuilt' anagrammed gives 'LUBRICATE'.
(Other definitions for lubricate that I've seen before include "Bribe" , "Apply oil or grease to" , "Oil (a mechanism)" , "Coat with oil to reduce friction" , "Apply oil/grease" .)