I. ˈrəb verb
( 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
- rub one's nose in
- rub the wrong way
II. noun
Date: 1586
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 themselves — Benjamin Farrington
c. : something grating to the feelings (as a gibe or harsh criticism)
d. : something that mars serenity
2. : the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub