rub·bing

(rŭb′ĭng)

1. The act of polishing, cleaning, or drying.

2. A representation of a raised or indented surface made by placing paper over the surface and rubbing the paper gently with a marking agent such as charcoal or chalk.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

rubbing

(ˈrʌbɪŋ)

an impression taken of an incised or raised surface, such as a brass plate on a tomb, by laying paper over it and rubbing with wax, graphite, etc

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

rub•bing

(ˈrʌb ɪŋ)

n.

an impression of an incised or sculptured surface made by laying paper over it and rubbing with graphite or a similar substance until the image appears.

[1835–45]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	rubbing - the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another friction attrition, detrition, grinding - the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice adhesive friction, traction, grip - the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road) resistance - any mechanical force that tends to retard or oppose motion
	2.	rubbing - representation consisting of a copy (as of an engraving) made by laying paper over something and rubbing it with charcoal representation - a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something
	3.	rubbing - effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure detrition, friction attrition - the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction elbow grease, exertion, effort, travail, sweat - use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion"

Translations

frottement

sfregamento strofinamento

rubbing

[ˈrʌbɪŋ]

A. N

1. (= act) → frotamiento m

2. (= brass rubbing) → calco m

B. CPD rubbing alcohol N (US) → alcohol m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

rubbing

(= action) → Reiben nt; (of collar) → Scheuern nt, → Reiben nt; (with towel) → Frottieren nt; (= polishing) → Polieren nt; (with sandpaper) → Schmirgeln nt

(Art) ? brass rubbing

rubbing

rubbing alcohol

n (US) → Wundbenzin nt

rubbing varnish

n → Schleiflack m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

rubbing

[ˈrʌbɪŋ] n → sfregamento (Art) → rilievo (ottenuto sfregando colore su un foglio sovrapposto)

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

rubbing

n. masaje.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

When the Barmecide had done rubbing his hands, he raised his voice, and cried, "Set food before us at once, we are very hungry." No food was brought, but the Barmecide pretended to help himself from a dish, and carry a morsel to his mouth, saying as he did so, "Eat, my friend, eat, I entreat.

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Rubbing from left to right had no visible effect whatever.

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In point of fact, he rarely ceased from rubbing them, and sometimes, as their numbness increased, he rubbed fiercely.

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A GROOM used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them for his own profit.

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This struck the Unworthy Man on the head and set him rubbing that bruised organ vigorously with one hand while vainly attempting to expand an umbrella with the other.

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I was sorry for Ginger, but of course I knew very little then, and I thought most likely she made the worst of it; however, I found that as the weeks went on she grew much more gentle and cheerful, and had lost the watchful, defiant look that she used to turn on any strange person who came near her; and one day James said, "I do believe that mare is getting fond of me, she quite whinnied after me this morning when I had been rubbing her forehead."

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During supper D'Artagnan observed that Planchet kept rubbing his forehead, as if to facilitate the issue of some idea closely pent within his brain.

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From rubbing his nose with the ruler, to poising it in his hand and giving it an occasional flourish after the tomahawk manner, the transition was easy and natural.

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Alec had her on the sofa rolled up in the bear-skin coat, with Phebe rubbing her cold feet while he rubbed the aching hands, and Aunt Plenty made a comfortable hot drink, and Aunt Peace sent down her own foot-warmer and embroidered blanket "for the dear."

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Then rubbing his chin with his hand, and looking up to the ceiling as if to recall the circumstances to his memory, he began as follows:--

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Smallweed, rubbing his hands with an artful chuckle.

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Mobbs moved slowly towards the desk, rubbing his eyes in anticipation of good cause for doing so; and he soon afterwards retired by the side-door, with as good cause as a boy need have.

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