rub

rub (r

v. rubbed, rub·bing, rubs

v.tr.

1. To apply pressure and friction to (a surface).

2. To clean, polish, or manipulate by the application of pressure and friction.

3. To apply to a surface firmly and with friction: rub lotion on the hands; rub dye into the fabric.

4. To move (an object or objects) firmly along a surface, especially repeatedly: rub an eraser over the blackboard; rubbed my fingers over the sore spot.

5. To cause to become worn, chafed, or irritated.

6. To remove, erase, or expunge: rub away a stain; rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

v.intr.

a. To exert pressure or friction on something.

b. To wear or chafe with friction: My shoes were beginning to rub.

c. To cause irritation or annoyance.

2. To move along in contact with a surface; graze or scrape.

3. To be transferred or removed by contact or proximity: newsprint that rubbed off on my fingers; wished some of her luck would rub off on me.

1. The act of rubbing.

2. The application of friction and pressure: a back rub.

3. A substance or preparation applied by rubbing, especially:

a. A liniment or balm.

b. A seasoning made of ground spices and herbs, applied to the surface of meat, fish, or vegetables before cooking.

4. An unevenness on a surface.

5. An act or remark that annoys or hurts another.

6. A difficulty or obstacle: "The rub for extraterrestrial life on Europa is that the moon's surface is an icy wasteland" William J. Broad.

Phrasal Verbs:

rub down

To perform a brisk rubbing of the body, as in massage.

rub in

To harp on (an unpleasant matter).

rub out

1. To obliterate by or as if by rubbing.

2. Slang To kill; murder.

Idioms:

rub elbows/shoulders

To mix or socialize closely: diplomats rubbing elbows with heads of state.

rub (one's) hands

To experience or display pleased anticipation, self-satisfaction, or glee.

rub (someone's) nose in Slang

To bring repeatedly and forcefully to another's attention.

rub (someone) the wrong way

To annoy; irritate: "One can see . . . how [his] expression of his ideals and intentions must have rubbed many people the wrong way" Christopher Lehmann-Haupt.

rub up on

To refresh one's knowledge of: I have to rub up on my French.

[Middle English rubben.]

rub

Verb

[rubbing, rubbed]

1. to apply pressure and friction to (something) with a circular or backwards-and-forwards movement

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

3. to clean, polish, or dry by rubbing

4. to spread with pressure, esp. so that it can be absorbed: rub beeswax into all polishable surfaces

5. to chafe or fray through rubbing

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

7. rub it in to emphasize an unpleasant fact

8. rub up the wrong way to annoy

Noun

1. the act of rubbing

2. the rub the obstacle or difficulty: there's the rub

See also rub along, rub down, etc. [origin unknown]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	rub - an unforeseen obstacle hang-up, hitch, snag obstacle, obstruction - something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan"
	2.	rub - the act of rubbing or wiping; "he gave the hood a quick rub" wipe physical contact, contact - the act of touching physically; "her fingers came in contact with the light switch" scuff - the act of scuffing (scraping or dragging the feet)
Verb	1.	rub - move over something with pressure; "rub my hands"; "rub oil into her skin" guide, pass, run, draw - pass over, across, or through; "He ran his eyes over her body"; "She ran her fingers along the carved figurine"; "He drew her hair through his fingers" brush - rub with a brush, or as if with a brush; "Johnson brushed the hairs from his jacket" pumice - rub with pumice, in order to clean or to smoothen gauge - rub to a uniform size; "gauge bricks" puree, strain - rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby" rosin - rub rosin onto; "rosin the violin bow" sponge down, sponge off - clean with a sponge, by rubbing worry - touch or rub constantly; "The old man worried his beads" scrub, scour - clean with hard rubbing; "She scrubbed his back" abrade, scour - rub hard or scrub; "scour the counter tops" smudge, smutch, smear, blur - make a smudge on; soil by smudging scrape, grate - scratch repeatedly; "The cat scraped at the armchair" wipe, pass over - rub with a circular motion; "wipe the blackboard"; "He passed his hands over the soft cloth" grate - reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface; "grate carrots and onions"; "grate nutmeg" abrade, abrase, corrade, rub down, rub off - wear away massage, rub down, knead - manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes; "She rubbed down her child with a sponge" abrade, abrase, corrade, rub down, rub off - wear away rub out, score out, wipe off, erase, efface - remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing; "Please erase the formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!"
	2.	rub - cause friction; "my sweater scratches" scratch, fray, chafe, fret adjoin, contact, touch, meet - be in direct physical contact with; make contact; "The two buildings touch"; "Their hands touched"; "The wire must not contact the metal cover"; "The surfaces contact at this point"
	3.	rub - scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; "Don't scratch your insect bites!" itch, scratch irritate - excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach"