Given lubrication, outer parts of gear moved smoothly (7)
I believe the answer is:
greased
'given lubrication' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'outer parts of gear moved smoothly' is the wordplay.
'outer parts of' suggests removing the centre.
'moved smoothly' becomes 'eased' (I've seen this in another clue).
'gear' with its centre removed is 'gr'.
'gr'+'eased'='GREASED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for greased that I've seen before include "well buttered" , "got moving with gun?" , "Oiled" , "As palms may be" , "well lubricated" .)