rub

1 of 2

verb

rubbed; rubbing

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

rub

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an unevenness of surface (as of the ground in lawn bowling)
b
: obstruction, difficulty
the rub is that so few of the scholars have any sense of this truth themselvesBenjamin Farrington
c
: something grating to the feelings (such as a gibe or harsh criticism)
d
: something that mars serenity
2
: the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub
3
US : a combination of spices that is rubbed into the surface of meat before the meat is cooked
used a dry rub on the pork ribs
Phrases
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

Examples of rub in a Sentence

Verb Could you rub my shoulders? He blinked and rubbed his eyes. The cat rubbed itself against my leg. The cat rubbed against my leg. Don't rub too hard or you'll tear the paper. He rubbed his hands with glee. There was a squeak when the boards rubbed together. The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister. There are marks where the chair has rubbed against the wall. There are marks where the chair has been rubbing the wall. Noun She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub. He used his favorite rub on the steaks. a dry rub for chicken See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Sprinkle pork chops evenly with chile powder mixture, and rub until well coated. Adam Dolge, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023 As the year rolls on, some of us are still constantly sneezing and fighting the urge to rub our itchy, bloodshot eyes with the changing of the seasons. Kelsey Castañon, refinery29.com, 14 Sep. 2023 Next, remove any branches that cross or rub one another. oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2023 Bradberry’s teammates didn’t appreciate Smith-Schuster rubbing their faces in it, too, especially after Bradberry had been mature and accountable for a penalty that most football fans hated. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023 Jewelry rubbing against each other causes problems. Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 One behavior in particular is a rolling motion in which the animal flips on its back to rub against the sand, which has been seen numerous times from an aerial view since it was first noticed last summer but witnessed few times in the water. Ana Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023 Season the corn: To prepare this quick and easy side dish, rub ears of corn with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Julia Levy, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2023 Coppola flips the balance here to an extent that risks rubbing hardcore Elvis fans the wrong way, putting the performer in a less-than-flattering though never unfair light. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
Noun
Castor oil has long been considered a jack-of-all-trades home remedy, used as a laxative, a moisturizer and as a chest rub to ease lung congestion. Katie Camero, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2023 Garlic powder: Essential to the flavor of a barbecue rub. Julia Levy, Southern Living, 5 June 2023 In today's recipe, the salmon’s flavor is enhanced by the mustard sauce and a rub made with parsley, herbs and oil. Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2023 Take the classic example of when your feline rolls over and exposes its belly, as if asking for a tummy rub. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2023 The fragrant, orange-hued rub is predominantly due to paprika, enhanced with a few other spices. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023 The tip-off to a tree like this is the ancillary sign nearby; look for droppings, rubs, scrapes, and kicked up leaves and grass left by feeding deer. Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 20 July 2023 Yet How Long to Marinate Chicken For dry rub marinades, 30 minutes to 2 hours is how long to marinate chicken to allow the flavors to penetrate enough of the chicken to add flavor. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2023 Along with his wife and business partner Heather, Davis now combines central Texas-style techniques with Arizona spices and rubs made from scratch, all cooked over Arizona oak. Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rub was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rub

Cite this Entry

“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

rub

1 of 2 verb
rubbed; rubbing
1
a
: to move along the surface of a body with pressure
b
: to wear away or chafe with friction
2
: to scour, polish, erase, spread, or smear by pressure and friction

rub

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: something that gets in the way : difficulty
b
: something that is annoying
2
: the act of rubbing

Medical Definition

rub

noun
1
: the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub
2
: a sound heard in auscultation that is produced by the friction of one structure moving against another

More from Merriam-Webster on rub

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