n.
Pronunciation: ' r ə b
Function: verb
Inflected Form: 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 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 : to arouse the antagonism or displeasure of : IRRITATE