First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1rub
verb \ˈrəb\
: to move something (such as your hand or an object) back and forth along the surface of (something) while pressing
: to move (two things) back and forth against each other
: to move back and forth many times against something in a way that causes pain or damage
rubbedrub·bing
Full Definition of RUB
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
— 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
See rub defined for English-language learners
See rub defined for kids
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Origin of RUB
Middle English rubben; akin to East Frisian rubben to rub, scrape, Icelandic rubba to scrape
2rub
noun
: an act of rubbing a surface with your hands or an object
the rub : something that causes a difficulty or problem
: a combination of spices that is rubbed into the surface of meat before the meat is cooked
Full Definition of RUB
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>
See rub defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RUB
1586
Related to RUB
- Synonyms
- aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, annoyance, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation
RUBBED Defined for Kids
1rub
verb \ˈrəb\
rubbedrub·bing
Definition of RUB for Kids
1
: to move along the surface of something with pressure <Kitty rubbed against my legs.>
2
: to move back and forth against something in a way that causes pain or damage <The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel.>
3
: to scour, polish, or smear by pressure and friction <He rubbed oil on the wood.>
— rub elbows with
: to meet and talk with in a friendly way <Stink got to rub elbows with the president … — Megan McDonald, Judy Moody>
— rub in
: to keep reminding someone of (something unpleasant) <I know I looked silly. Don't rub it in.>
— rub off
: to come off a surface and often stick to another surface by rubbing <The ink rubbed off on my fingers.>
— rub the wrong way
: to cause to be angry : irritate
2rub
noun
Definition of RUB for Kids
1
: the act of rubbing <a back rub>
2
: something that causes a problem
Medical Dictionary
rub
noun \ˈrəb\
Medical Definition of RUB
1
: the application of friction with pressure <an alcohol rub>
2
: a sound heard in auscultation that is produced by the friction of one structure moving against another
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