rub

noun

UK /rʌb/

Word Forms

singular	rub
plural	rubs

1
countable the action of rubbing part of the body
a rub on the back
a foot rub
Synonyms and related words
To rub and rubbing
rub
knead
scratch
1. 1a
  the action of rubbing something with a cloth etc
  Synonyms and related words
  An instance or an action of cleaning or tidying
  rinse
  wipe
  rub
2

the rub
literarya problem, or a difficult situation
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
Synonyms and related words
General problems and difficulties
problem
difficulty
trouble

rub

noun

US /rʌb/

Word Forms

singular	rub
plural	rubs

1
countable the action of rubbing part of the body
a rub on the back
a foot rub
Synonyms and related words
To rub and rubbing
rub
knead
scratch
1. 1a
  the action of rubbing something with a cloth, etc.
  Give your shoes a quick rub.
  Synonyms and related words
  An instance or an action of cleaning or tidying
  wipe
  rinse
  rub
2

the rub
literarya problem, or a difficult situation
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
Synonyms and related words
General problems and difficulties
problem
difficulty
trouble

rub

verb

UK /rʌb/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rub
he/she/it	rubs
present participle	rubbing
past tense	rubbed
past participle	rubbed

1
intransitive/transitive to press and move your hands or an object over a surface
The boy rubbed his eyes sleepily.
rub something off something:
Rub the skins of the peppers off when they have softened.
Synonyms and related words
To press or squeeze something
press
squeeze
depress
1. 1a
  to move your hand backwards and forwards across a part of someone’s body while pressing firmly, especially because that part of the body hurts
  Scott gently rubbed her back until the pain went away.
  Synonyms and related words
  To rub and rubbing
  rub
  knead
  scratch
2. 1b
  to move something such as a cloth backwards and forwards across a surface to clean it, dry it, or make it smooth
  rub something off something:
  He rubbed the dirt off the number plate with his sleeve.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make something clean by rubbing
  rub
  wipe
  polish
Collocates
Adverbs frequently used with rub
▪ briskly, gently, hard, lightly, vigorously
2
transitive to press and move one object against another or against a surface
rub something against something:
The cat rubbed its cheek against my leg.
rub something together:
Rub your hands together, it will help you to stay warm.
Synonyms and related words
To press or squeeze something
press
squeeze
depress
1. 2a
  to press and move against an object or a surface
  The cow rubbed against the fence.
  Synonyms and related words
  To rub and rubbing
  rub
  knead
  scratch
2. 2b
  intransitive Britishto hurt or damage something by continuously pressing and moving against it
  Cindy’s new shoes were rubbing and giving her blisters.
  Synonyms and related words
  To damage or spoil something
  damage
  spoil
  mark
3
transitive to spread a liquid or substance onto the surface of something
rub something on something:
She rubbed some tanning oil on his back.
rub something with something:
Rub the chicken with garlic before putting it in the oven.
Synonyms and related words
To cover something
cover
wrap
coat

phrases

rub salt into the wound

rub shoulders with someone

rub someone up the wrong way

phrasal verbs

rub along

rub down

rub in

rub off

rub out

rub

verb

US /rʌb/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rub
he/she/it	rubs
present participle	rubbing
past tense	rubbed
past participle	rubbed

1
intransitive/transitive to press and move your hands or an object over a surface
The boy rubbed his eyes sleepily.
rub something off something:
Rub the skins of the peppers off when they have softened.
Synonyms and related words
To press or squeeze something
press
squeeze
rub
1. 1a
  to move something such as a cloth backward and forward across a surface to clean it, dry it, or make it smooth
  rub something off something:
  He rubbed the dirt off the license plate with his sleeve.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make something clean by rubbing
  rub
  wipe
  polish
2. 1b
  to move your hand backward and forward across a part of someone’s body while pressing firmly, especially because that part of the body hurts
  Scott gently rubbed her back until the pain went away.
  Synonyms and related words
  To rub and rubbing
  rub
  knead
  scratch
Collocates
Adverbs frequently used with rub
▪ briskly, gently, hard, lightly, vigorously
2
transitive to press and move one object against another or against a surface
rub something together:
Rub your hands together, it will help you to stay warm.
rub something against something:
The cat rubbed its cheek against my leg.
Synonyms and related words
To press or squeeze something
press
squeeze
rub
1. 2a
  to press and move against an object or a surface
  The cow rubbed against the fence.
  Synonyms and related words
  To rub and rubbing
  rub
  knead
  scratch
2. 2b
  intransitive Britishto hurt or damage something by continuously pressing and moving against it
  Cindy’s new shoes were rubbing and giving her blisters.
  Synonyms and related words
  To damage or spoil something
  damage
  spoil
  mark
3
transitive to spread a liquid or substance onto the surface of something
rub something on something:
She rubbed some tanning oil on his back.
rub something with something:
Rub the chicken with garlic before putting it in the oven.
Synonyms and related words
To cover something
cover
wrap
coat

phrases

rub salt into the wound

rub shoulders with someone

rub someone the wrong way

phrasal verbs

rub down

rub in

rub off

rub out

rub

the rub

rub

the rub

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rub

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