I. ˈrəb verb
( rubbed ; rubbed ; rubbing ; rubs )
Etymology: Middle English rubben; akin to Frisian rubben to rub, scratch, Icelandic rubba to scrape, and probably to Old English rēafian to take away by stealth or force — more at reave
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate
if the journal rubs against the bearing surface … too hard … the bearing surface will be scratched — H.F.Blanchard & Ralph Ritchen
b.
(1) : to fret or chafe with friction
rub upon a sore
(2) : to cause discontent, irritation, or anger
it rubs to be presided over by a vast … aggressively paternal indifference — R.W.Flint
2. : to continue in a course, situation, or way of life usually with slight difficulty or hindrance
the great mass of modern men could rub along happily enough without works of art — Roger Fry
3. of a bowl : to come in contact with an impediment on the green
4. : to respond to rubbing (as for erasure or obliteration) : become rubbed
dull inks … sometimes rub off, even though the engraving is completely dry — R.N.Steffens
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to subject (as a body or a surface) to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction
bent over and rubbed his sore ankle
(2) : to scour, smooth, burnish, polish, or brighten by rubbing
could see his reflection in the well rubbed wood
— often used with up
rub up the brass
(3) : to spread a substance thinly over : smear
rub dressed fish generously with cut lemons — Jane Nickerson
(4) : to roughen, wear, or make worn by the friction of rubbing
b.
(1) : to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface
rubbing grubby knuckles in his eyes as he wept — T.B.Costain
(2) : to remove, reduce to powder, spread, erase, or otherwise treat by rubbing
rubbed the rust from old muskets — Dana Burnet
the paste had hardened, and it was then vigorously rubbed in — H.E.Scudder
(3) : to start (as a flame) by the friction of rubbing
(4) : to straighten (as a wire or needle) by rubbing while hot
c. : to bring into reciprocal back and forth or rotary contact
rub two sticks to make fire
rubbing his hands in glee
d. : to take a rubbing of
2.
a. archaic : to arouse a remembrance or a memory in
rub him on this point, for his recollection becomes rusty — Sir Walter Scott
b. : to arouse pain, distress, or anger in : annoy , irritate
•
- rub elbows
- rub the wrong way
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a.
(1) : an unevenness or inequality of surface of the ground in lawn bowling
(2) archaic : an unevenness or inequality of surface that impedes movement
there will be rubs in the smoothest road — Sir Walter Scott
b. : an obstruction or difficulty that hinders, stops, or alters the course of an argument, chain of thought, or action
the rub is that so few of the scholars have any sense of this truth themselves — Benjamin Farrington
c.
(1) : something that mars the smoothness of a surface : roughness
leave no rubs nor botches in the work — Shakespeare
(2) : something grating to the feelings (as a gibe, sarcasm, or harsh criticism)
I got many severe rubs, often unconsciously given — T.B.Aldrich
(3) : something that mars or upsets a usually serene state of affairs or way of life
even the mildest occupation produces its rubs and frictions — W.H.Chamberlin
2. : the application of friction with pressure : rubbing
3. dialect England : rubstone
III. abbreviation
1. rubbed
2.
[Latin ruber ]
red
3. rubber
IV. verb
•
- rub one's nose in