/ rʌb; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -bb- )
1.
rub sth (with sth) to move your hand, or sth such as a cloth, backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing firmly :
[ vn ]
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Rub the surface with sandpaper before painting.
The cat rubbed itself against my legs.
[ v ]
I rubbed at the stain on the cloth.
Animals had been rubbing against the trees.
[ vn - adj ]
Rub the surface smooth.
2.
rub (sth) (together) to press two surfaces against each other and move them backwards and forwards; to be pressed together and move in this way :
[ vn ]
She rubbed her hands in delight.
[ v ]
It sounded like two pieces of wood rubbing together.
3.
rub (on / against sth) ( of a surface ) to move backwards and forwards many times against sth while pressing it, especially causing pain or damage :
[ v ]
The back of my shoe is rubbing.
The wheel is rubbing on the mudguard.
[ vn - adj ]
The horse's neck was rubbed raw (= until the skin came off) where the rope had been.
[also vn ]
4.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to spread a liquid or other substance over a surface while pressing firmly :
She rubbed the lotion into her skin.
•
IDIOMS
- rub sb's nose in it
- rub salt into the wound | rub salt into sb's wounds
- rub shoulders with sb
- rub sb up the wrong way
—more at two
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- rub along (with sb / together)
- rub sb / oneself / sth down
- rub sth down
- rub it in | rub sth in
- rub off (on / onto sb)
- rub sth off (sth) | rub off
- rub sb out
- rub sth out
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] an act of rubbing a surface :
She gave her knee a quick rub.
2.
the rub [ sing. ] ( formal or humorous ) a problem or difficulty :
The hotel is in the middle of nowhere and there lies the rub . We don't have a car.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): perhaps from Low German rubben , of unknown ultimate origin. The noun dates from the late 16th cent.