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)