| RUB | | —v. (-bb-) 1 move something, esp. One's hand, with firm pressure over the surface of.
- (usu. Foll. By against, in, on, over) apply (one's hand etc.) In this way.
- clean, polish, chafe, or make dry, sore, or bare by rubbing.
- (foll. By in, into, through, over) apply (polish etc.) By rubbing.
- (often foll. By together, against, on) move with contact or friction or slide (objects) against each other.
- (of cloth, skin, etc.) Become frayed, worn, sore, or bare with friction. —n. - act or spell of rubbing (give it a rub).
- impediment or difficulty (there's the rub). rub along colloq. Cope or manage routinely. Rub down dry, smooth, or clean by rubbing. Rub it in (or rub a person's nose in it) emphasize or repeat an embarrassing fact etc. Rub off 1 (usu. Foll. By on) be transferred by contact, be transmitted (his attitudes have rubbed off on me).
- remove by rubbing. Rub out erase with a rubber. Rub shoulders with associate with. Rub up 1 polish.
- brush up (a subject or one's memory). Rub up the wrong way irritate. [low german] | |