Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense rubs, present participle rubbing, past tense, past participle rubbed
1. verb
If you rub a part of your body, you move your hand or fingers backwards and forwards over it while pressing firmly.
He rubbed his arms and stiff legs. [VERB noun]
'I fell in a ditch', he said, rubbing at a scrape on his hand. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: stroke, smooth, massage, caress More Synonyms of rub
2. verb
If you rubagainst a surface or rub a part of your body against a surface, you move it backwards and forwards while pressing it against the surface.
A cat was rubbing against my leg. [VERB preposition]
He kept rubbing his leg against mine. [VERB noun preposition]
3. verb
If you rub an object or a surface, you move a cloth backward and forward over it in order to clean or dry it.
She took off her glasses and rubbed them hard. [VERB noun]
He rubbed and rubbed but couldn't seem to get clean. [VERB]
Synonyms: polish, clean, shine, wipe More Synonyms of rub
4. verb
If you rub a substance into a surface or rub something such as dirt from a surface, you spread it over the surface or remove it from the surface using yourhand or something such as a cloth.
He rubbed oil into my back. [VERB noun preposition]
I pretended to rub a fleck of grit from one eye. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: spread, put, apply, work in More Synonyms of rub
5. verb
If you rub two things together or if they rubtogether, they move backwards and forwards, pressing against each other.
He rubbed his hands together a few times. [V n together]
...the 650-mile rift that separates the Pacific and North American geological platesas they rub together. [Vtogether]
6. verb
If something you are wearing or holding rubs, it makes you sore because it keeps moving backwards and forwards against your skin.
Smear cream on to your baby's skin at the edges of the plaster to prevent it fromrubbing. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: chafe, scrape, grate, abrade More Synonyms of rub
7. singular noun
Rub is used in expressions such as there's the rub and the rub is when you are mentioning a difficulty that makes something hard or impossible to achieve.
[formal]
'What do you want to write about?'. And there was the rub, because I didn't yet know.
8. countable noun [usually singular]
A massage can be referred to as a rub.
She sometimes asks if I want a back rub.
Synonyms: massage, caress, kneading More Synonyms of rub
9. countable noun [usually with supplement]
A rub is a substance that you massage into your skin.
...a fresh cucumber rub for your whole face.
10. See also rubbing
11.
See to rub shoulders with
12.
See rub sb up the wrong way
13. to rub someone's nose in it
14. to rub salt into the wound
Phrasal verbs:
See rub along
See rub down
See rub in
See rub off
See rub out
More Synonyms of rub
rub in British English
(rʌb)
verbWord forms: rubs, rubbing or rubbed
1.
to apply pressure and friction to (something) with a circular or backward and forward motion
2.
to move (something) with pressure along, over, or against (a surface)
3.
to chafe or fray
4. (transitive)
to bring into a certain condition by rubbing
rub it clean
5. (transitive)
to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed
he rubbed ointment into his back
6. (transitive)
to mix (fat) into flour with the fingertips, as in making pastry
7. (foll byoff, out, away, etc)
to remove or be removed by rubbing
8. (intransitive) bowling
(of a bowl) to be slowed or deflected by an uneven patch on the green
9. (transitive; often foll bytogether)
to move against each other with pressure and friction (esp in the phrases rub one's hands, often a sign of glee, anticipation, or satisfaction, and rub noses, a greeting among Inuit people)
10. rub someone's nose in it
11. rub up the wrong way
12. rub shoulders with
noun
13.
the act of rubbing
14. the rub
15.
something that hurts the feelings or annoys; rebuke
16. bowling
an uneven patch in the green
17.
any roughness or unevenness of surface
18.
a. golf
an incident of accidental interference with the ball
b. informal
a piece of good or bad luck
Word origin
C15: perhaps from Low German rubben, of obscure origin
rub in American English
(rʌb)
verb transitiveWord forms: rubbed or ˈrubbing
1.
to move one's hand, a cloth, etc. over (a surface or object) with pressure and friction,in a circular or back-and-forth motion
2.
to move (one's hand, a cloth, etc.) over, or spread or apply (polish, etc.) on or over, a surface or object in this way
3.
to move (a thing) against something else, or move (things) over each other with pressureand friction
often followed by together, etc.
4.
to apply pressure and friction to, for cleaning, polishing, smoothing, etc.
5.
to put into a specified condition by applying pressure and friction
to rub oneself dry
6.
to make sore or chafed by rubbing
7.
to force, cause to go, etc. (in, into, etc.) by rubbing
8.
to remove by rubbing (out, off, away, etc.)
verb intransitive
9.
to move with pressure and friction (on, against, etc.)
the tire rubbing against the fender
10.
to rub something; exert pressure and friction on something
11.
to admit of being rubbed or removed by rubbing
often with off, out, etc.
12.
to arouse anger or irritation
noun
13.
the act or an instance of rubbing; specif., a massage
14.
an obstacle, hindrance, or difficulty
15.
a place or spot that has been rubbed until rough or sore
16.
something that irritates, annoys, offends, etc., as a jeer or rebuke
Idioms:
rub along
rub down
rub elbows with
rub it in
rub off on
rub out
rub the wrong way
Word origin
ME rubben, akin to Dan rubbe, EFris rubben < IE *reup-, to tear out < base *reu-, to dig, tear out > rob, rip1, rug, rubble, L rumpere, to break
More idioms containing
rub
rub elbows with someone
rub someone's nose in it
not have two pennies to rub together
don't rub it in
the rub of the green
there's the rub
rub salt into the wound
rub shoulders with someone
rub someone up the wrong way
Examples of 'rub' in a sentence
rub
Rub together with fingertips until resembling crumbs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As a youngster he rubbed shoulders with tennis stars and still likes to get to the big matches.
The Sun (2016)
It's all about getting the rub of the green.
The Sun (2016)
Instead, they are having their faces rubbed in the dirt.
The Sun (2016)
Of course, this gig also involves rubbing shoulders with royalty.
The Sun (2016)
For this is one of many areas in London where conspicuous wealth rubs shoulders with deprivation.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A good face rub also helps.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Drain well and, once cool enough to handle, rub off their skins.
The Sun (2017)
On top of that, Wales are not getting the rub of the green.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The oil will then be rubbed into your body using massage techniques.
Sedgbeer, Sandra The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)
It happens time and again that winning sides get the rub of the green.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Then you have to rub it hard to disperse it over the muscle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are foot rubs and back rubs as far as the eye can see.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Talk about rubbing our faces in it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Tip into a dry cloth and rub to remove skins.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You just rubbed a lamp and expected a genie to do it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
With the rub of the green we can succeed.
The Sun (2008)
When she rubbed her fingers together it flaked off in small curls like shavings from a rubber.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
Rub the cut surfaces with a clove of garlic and half a tomato.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You should be able to just rub off the skin.
The Sun (2011)
While she was there the kitten rubbed round her leg.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It felt like we were getting our noses rubbed in something.
Christianity Today (2000)
His fight to be the best and to work as hard as possible rubbed off on me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is there anything more tedious than a back rub?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She rubs her face to hide the grin.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You will rub shoulders with Hollywood stars and visit the poor and dispossessed.
The Sun (2014)
You are avoided by so-called friends who think some bad luck will rub off on them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We're two people who just rub along very nicely and happily together.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Fashion boutiques and beauty salons rub shoulders with health shops, specialist grocers and music stores.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
rub
British English: rub /rʌb/ VERB
If you rub something, you move your hand or a cloth backwards and forwards over it while pressing firmly.
She took off her glasses and rubbed them with a soft cloth.
American English: rub
Arabic: يُدَلِّكُ
Brazilian Portuguese: esfregar
Chinese: 搓
Croatian: trljati
Czech: třít
Danish: gnide
Dutch: wrijven
European Spanish: frotar
Finnish: hangata
French: frotter
German: reiben
Greek: τρίβω
Italian: sfregare
Japanese: こする
Korean: 문지르다
Norwegian: gni
Polish: zetrzeć
European Portuguese: esfregar
Romanian: a freca
Russian: тереть
Latin American Spanish: frotar
Swedish: gnida
Thai: ถู
Turkish: sürtmek
Ukrainian: терти
Vietnamese: cọ rửa
British English: rub NOUN
A massage can be referred to as a rub.
She sometimes asks if I want a back rub.
American English: rub
Brazilian Portuguese: esfregadela
Chinese: 按摩
European Spanish: masaje
French: massage
German: Massage
Italian: massaggio
Japanese: マッサージ
Korean: 안마
European Portuguese: esfregadela
Latin American Spanish: masaje
All related terms of 'rub'
rub in
If you rub a substance in , you press it into something by continuously moving it over its surface.
rub up
to refresh one's memory (of)
rub off
If someone's qualities or habits rub off on you, you develop some of their qualities or habits after spending time with them.
rub out
If you rub out something that you have written on paper or a board , you remove it using a rubber or eraser .
the rub
an obstacle or difficulty (esp in the phrase there's the rub )
back rub
a form of massage in which the masseur rubs one's back
body rub
massage
rub along
If two people rub along or if one person rubs along with another, they are able to live or work together in a fairly friendly way, usually when you would not expect them to.
rub down
If you rub down a rough surface, you make it smooth by rubbing it with something such as sandpaper.
rub-a-dub
a sound of or as of a drum being beaten
rub it in
to harp on (something distasteful to a person, of which he or she does not wish to be reminded )
friction rub
the sound, heard through a stethoscope , made by the rubbing together of the two inflamed layers of pericardium in patients with pericarditis or of pleura in patients with pleurisy
rub off on
to be left on (something or someone) as a mark, as by rubbing or, figuratively, by close contact
Rub‘ al Khali
a desert in S Arabia , mainly in Saudi Arabia, extending southeast from Nejd to Hadramaut and northeast from Yemen to the United Arab Emirates . Area: about 777 000 sq km (300 000 sq miles)
don't rub it in
said to mean that someone should not draw attention to something that is unpleasant or embarrassing for you
rub elbows with
to associate or mingle with ( famous or prominent people, etc.)
rub shoulders with
to mix with socially or associate with
there's the rub
said to mean that there is a problem or contradiction which is difficult or impossible to deal with
rub the wrong way
to be annoying , irritating , etc. to
rub someone's nose in
to keep reminding someone of something unpleasant , as a mistake made
give something a rub-up
to smooth or polish something
rub elbows with someone
to spend time with an important or famous person. The usual British expression is rub shoulders with someone
rub salt into the wound
to make something even worse for someone, for example by reminding them of their failures or faults or by increasing their difficulties
rub up the wrong way
to arouse anger in; annoy
the rub of the green
good luck in an activity or sport
rub shoulders with someone
to associate with someone important or famous for a while. The usual American expression is rub elbows with someone .
rub someone's nose in it
to embarrass or upset someone by reminding them of something that they do not want to think about, such as a failure or a mistake that they have made
rub sb up the wrong way
If you rub someone up the wrong way in British English , or rub someone the wrong way in American English, you offend or annoy them without intending to.
to rub salt into the wound
If someone or something rubs salt into the wound , they make the unpleasant situation that you are in even worse , often by reminding you of your failures or faults .
rub salt into someone's wounds
to make someone's pain , shame , etc, even worse
to rub someone's nose in it
To rub someone's nose in something that they do not want to think about, such as a failing or a mistake they have made, means to remind them repeatedly about it.
to rub shoulders with rub shoulders with someone to rub elbows with
If you rub shoulders with famous people, you meet them and talk to them. You can also say that you rub elbows with someone, especially in American English .
not have two pennies to rub together
to have very little money
rub sb's nose in sth to rub someone's nose in it
To rub someone's nose in something that they do not want to think about, such as a failing or a mistake they have made, means to remind them repeatedly about it.
Chinese translation of 'rub'
rub
(rʌb)
vt
(with hand, fingers) 揉 (róu)
(with cloth, substance) 擦 (cā)
to rub sth with sth将(將)某物涂(塗)抹在某物上 (jiāng mǒuwù túmǒ zài mǒuwù shang)
to rub sth onto or into sth用某物揉擦某物 (yòng mǒuwù róucā mǒuwù)
to rub one's hands (together)搓手 (cuō shǒu)
to rub sb up or (US) rub sb the wrong way (inf) 惹恼(惱)某人 (rěnǎo mǒurén)