Messy act - rub oil in (11)

I believe the answer is:

lubrication

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'messy act rub oil in' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'messy act rub oil in' is the wordplay.
'messy' indicates an anagram.
'act'+'rub'+'oil'+'in'='actruboilin'
'actruboilin' anagrammed gives 'LUBRICATION'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for lubrication that I've seen is " The application of oil or grease".)

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