rub

1 to damage or diminish by continued friction <the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use> Synonyms chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, abrade, wearRelated 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

2 to make smooth by friction <the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper> Synonyms buff, file, hone, rasp, grind, sandRelated Words plane, scrape; sandblast, scour; burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth; edge, hone, sharpen, strop, whet; regrindNear Antonyms coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff

3 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed> Synonyms buff, burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, shine, smooth, smoothenRelated Words sleek, slick; coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish; face, finish, veneer; brighten; file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub; bob, bone, lapNear Antonyms rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up)