Main Entry: ¹rub

Pronunciation: \ˈrəb\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): rubbed; rub·bing

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

Date: 14th century

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