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rub Definition

rub (rub)

transitive verb rubbed, rub′·bing

  1. to move one's hand, a cloth, etc. over (a surface or object) with pressure and friction, in a circular or back-and-forth motion
  2. to move (one's hand, a cloth, etc.) over, or spread or apply (polish, etc.) on or over, a surface or object in this way
  3. to move (a thing) against something else, or move (things) over each other with pressure and friction: often followed by together, etc.
  4. to apply pressure and friction to, for cleaning, polishing, smoothing, etc.
  5. to put into a specified condition by applying pressure and friction to rub oneself dry
  6. to make sore or chafed by rubbing
  7. to force, cause to go, etc. (in, into, etc.) by rubbing
  8. to remove by rubbing (out, off, away, etc.)

Etymology: ME rubben, akin to Dan rubbe, EFris rubben < IE *reup-, to tear out < base *reu-, to dig, tear out > rob, rip, rug, rubble, L rumpere, to break

intransitive verb

  1. to move with pressure and friction (on, against, etc.) the tire rubbing against the fender
  2. to rub something; exert pressure and friction on something
  3. to admit of being rubbed or removed by rubbing: often with off, out, etc.
  4. to arouse anger or irritation

noun

  1. the act or an instance of rubbing; specif., a massage
  2. an obstacle, hindrance, or difficulty
  3. a place or spot that has been rubbed until rough or sore
  4. something that irritates, annoys, offends, etc., as a jeer or rebuke

rub Idioms

rub along

or rub on or rub through

Chiefly Brit. to manage or keep going in spite of difficulties

rub down

  1. to massage
  2. to smooth, polish, wear down, etc. by rubbing

rub elbows with

to associate or mingle with (famous or prominent people, etc.)

rub it in

Slang to keep on mentioning to someone his or her failure or mistake, often with some malice

rub off on

☆

to be left on (something or someone) as a mark, as by rubbing or, figuratively, by close contact

rub out

  1. to erase or be erased by rubbing
  2. ☆ Slang to kill or murder

rub the wrong way

to be annoying, irritating, etc. to

rub Synonyms

rub

n.

  1. A rubbing action

    massage, rubdown, brushing, stroke, smoothing, scraping, scouring, buffing, rasping, friction, attrition; see also touch 2.

  2. A difficulty

    hindrance, obstacle, dilemma; see difficulty 1, 2, impediment 1.

    Antonyms answer*, solution*, aid.

rub Synonyms

rub

v.

  1. To subject to friction

    stroke, scrape, smooth, abrade, scour, grate, grind, wear away, graze, rasp, knead, fret, massage, rub down, polish, shine, burnish, buff, brush, curry, scrub, swab, erase, rub out, file, chafe, clean.

  2. To apply by rubbing

    brush, daub, bedaub, paint, smear, spread, cover, coat, plaster, anoint, slather*.

rub Usage Examples

Object

  • shoulder: I also got a chance to rub shoulders with a Squadron Leader.
  • salt: Us kids had to sit for hours rubbing salt into them to preserve them prior to hanging up from hooks in the box room.
  • dustjacket: A near fine hardback copy in a near fine very lightly edge rubbed dustjacket Price: 16.00 GBP Add to Shopping Cart 180.
  • elbow: What tends to make me pessimistic is the ignorance of the people I rub elbows with on a day to day basis.
  • strake: Others used the rubbing strakes on the outside of the hull to climb up.
  • ointment: It can also be used as a preventative; try gently rubbing ointment into the nipple to ward off soreness.

Converse of object

lie: Elections may well be the cornerstone of any democracy - therein lies the rub.

Preposition: at

extremity: Boards a little rubbed at extremities, lightly marked in places.

Preposition: through

sieve: Blitz in a food processor and rub through a sieve until only a tablespoon remains.

Modifies a noun

shoulder: Rub shoulders with the richest man in the world.. .

Noun used with modifier

  • tummy: All our girls have names which they know, and all enjoy a cuddle and a scratch or tummy rub.
  • belly: Will also lay on it's back for a belly rub!
  • vest: The vest had dried up milk down the front that had hardened making the vest rub up a rash on A's tummy.
  • alcohol: Please be careful when using the dispensers so you do not get the alcohol rub in your eyes.
  • spice: Get fresh with your chicken breasts with this easy spice rub.

Preposition: in

  • margarine: Rub in margarine and stir in yogurt to make a soft dough.
  • butter: Meanwhile, mix the flour, salt and spices together and rub in the butter.

Preposition: with

  • garlic: Great lightly toasted, rubbed with garlic and cut into croutons for serving with soup.
  • cloth: Usually brasses only require dusting, but if particularly dirty, rub with a soft cloth dipped in paraffin and wipe dry.

Followed by an intransitive particle

off: The shabby way things ended with Jen rubbed off on Pitt like nicotine on the walls of a pub, leaving him vaguely grubby.

Browse dictionary entries near rub

  1. ‹ Ruanda-Urundi
  2. ‹ Ruanda
  3. ‹ ruana
  4. ‹ RU-486
  5. ‹ Ru
  6. ‹ RTSP
  7. ‹ RTS
  8. ‹ RTP
  9. ‹ RTM
  10. ‹ RTF
  1. rub-a-dub ›
  2. Rubáiyát ›
  3. Rubʼ al Khali ›
  4. rub out ›
  5. rubasse ›
  6. rubato ›
  7. rubbaboo ›
  8. rubber ›
  9. rubber band ›
  10. rubber cement ›