rub

¹rub

verb \ˈrəb\

rubbedrub·bing

Definition of RUB

intransitive verb

1

a : to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate b (1) : to fret or chafe with or as if with friction (2) : to cause discontent, irritation, or anger

2

: to continue in a situation usually with slight difficulty <in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along>

3

: to admit of being rubbed (as for erasure or obliteration)

transitive verb

1

a : to subject to or as if to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction b (1) : to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface (2) : to treat in any of various ways by rubbing c : to bring into reciprocal back-and-forth or rotary contact

2

: annoy, irritate

— rub elbows or rub shoulders

: to associate closely : mingle

— rub one's nose in

: to bring forcefully or repeatedly to one's attention

— rub the wrong way

: antagonize, irritate

Examples of RUB

1. Could you rub my shoulders?
2. He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
3. The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
4. The cat rubbed against my leg.
5. Don't rub too hard or you'll tear the paper.
6. He rubbed his hands with glee.
7. There was a squeak when the boards rubbed together.
8. The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
9. There are marks where the chair has rubbed against the wall.
10. There are marks where the chair has been rubbing the wall.

Origin of RUB

Middle English rubben; akin to East Frisian rubben to rub, scrape, Icelandic rubba to scrape

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RUB

Synonyms: chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, abrade, wear

Related Words: file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave; erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away); bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat; hone, sharpen, whet

Near Antonyms: coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff

see all synonyms and antonyms

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