transitive verb rubbed, rubbing
- 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
- 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
- to move (a thing) against something else, or move (things) over each other with pressure and friction: often followed by together, etc.
- to apply pressure and friction to, for cleaning, polishing, smoothing, etc.
- to put into a specified condition by applying pressure and friction: to rub oneself dry
- to make sore or chafed by rubbing
- to force, cause to go, etc. (in, into, etc.) by rubbing
- to remove by rubbing (out, off, away, etc.)
Origin:
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