rub

[ruhb]

verb (used with object)

rubbed, rubbing 

1. to subject the surface of (a thing or person) to pressure and friction, as in cleaning, smoothing, polishing, coating, massaging, or soothing.

   to rub a table top with wax polish; to rub the entire back area.

2. to move (something) back and forth or with a rotary motion, as against or along another surface.

   to rub the cloth over the glass pane.

3. to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person.

   to rub lotion on her chapped hands.

4. to move (two things) with pressure and friction over or back and forth over each other (often followed bytogether ).

   He rubbed his hands together.

5. to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, orinto ).

6. to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off orout ).

verb (used without object)

rubbed, rubbing 

1. to exert pressure and friction on something.

2. to move with pressure against something.

3. to admit of being rubbed in a specified manner.

   Chalk rubs off easily.

4. Chiefly British.,  to proceed, continue in a course, or keep going with effort or difficulty (usually followed by on, along, orthrough ).

   He manages to rub along.

noun

1. an act or instance of rubbing.

   an alcohol rub.

2. something that annoys or irritates one's feelings, as a sharp criticism, a sarcastic remark, or the like.

   to resent rubs concerning one's character.

3. an annoying experience or circumstance.

4. an obstacle, impediment, or difficulty.

   We'd like to travel, but the rub is that we have no money.

   Synonyms: pinch, trouble, thing, catch, hitch

5. a rough or abraded area caused by rubbing.

verb phrase

1. rub down

   1. to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to.

      to rub a chair down with sandpaper.

   2. to give a massage to.

2. rub out

   1. to obliterate; erase.

   2. Slang.,  to murder.

      They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.

3. rub off on,  to become transferred or communicated to by example or association.

   Some of his good luck must have rubbed off on me.

rub

/ rʌb /

verb

1. to apply pressure and friction to (something) with a circular or backward and forward motion

2. to move (something) with pressure along, over, or against (a surface)

3. to chafe or fray

4. (tr) to bring into a certain condition by rubbing

   rub it clean

5. (tr) to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed

   he rubbed ointment into his back

6. (tr) to mix (fat) into flour with the fingertips, as in making pastry

7. to remove or be removed by rubbing

8. bowls (of a bowl) to be slowed or deflected by an uneven patch on the green

9. to move against each other with pressure and friction (esp in the phrases rub one's hands , often a sign of glee, anticipation, or satisfaction, and rub noses , a greeting among Inuit people)

10. informal,  to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error

11. to arouse anger (in); annoy

12. informal,  to mix with socially or associate with

noun

1. the act of rubbing

2. an obstacle or difficulty (esp in the phrase there's the rub )

3. something that hurts the feelings or annoys; rebuke

4. bowls an uneven patch in the green

5. any roughness or unevenness of surface

6. 1. golf an incident of accidental interference with the ball

   2. informal,  a piece of good or bad luck

Other Word Forms

• unrubbed adjective
• well-rubbed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rub¹

1300–50; 1860–65 rub for def. 18b; Middle English rubben (v.); cognate with Frisian rubben, Danish rubbe, Swedish rubba

Word History and Origins

Origin of rub¹

C15: perhaps from Low German rubben , of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. rub up, to refresh one's memory of (a subject, language, etc.).

2. rub salt in / into someone's wounds. salt.

3. rub it in, to emphasize or reiterate something unpleasant in order to tease or annoy.

   The situation was embarrassing enough without having you rub it in.

4. rub the wrong way, to irritate; offend; annoy.

   a manner that seemed to rub everyone the wrong way.

More idioms and phrases containing rub

• the rub

Example Sentences

The "Victory Day" parade, which takes place on Wednesday, will see Kim rub shoulders with China's President Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and other world leaders - making it his first multilateral international meeting.

From BBC

Some of her enthusiasm might rub off on you.

From Salon

The high cost of sports rights has become a major rub for pay-TV distributors who have been asked to pay higher fees to mitigate the loss of subscribers.

From Los Angeles Times

Wales were given a temporary reprieve as the final pass from Caity Mattinson looked forward, but on replay it was deemed flat to rub salt into Welsh wounds.

From BBC

Occasional weird inventions are folded in: a “hambulance” delivering ham; food trucks selling potato ice cream and soup on a stick; something called Pacifier Shirt Syndrome, caused by rubbing a dropped pacifier on a short.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apply 
• brush 
• caress 
• clean 
• coat 
• cover 
• glaze 
• graze 
• grind 
• knead 
• paint 
• pat 
• scrape 
• scrub 
• slather 
• smear 
• smooth 
• spread 
• wear 
• wipe