Word Frequency
rub (rʌb
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: rubs, rubbing, rubbed
- to apply pressure and friction to (something) with a circular or backward and forward motion
- to move (something) with pressure along, over, or against (a surface)
- to chafe or fray
- tr to bring into a certain condition by rubbing ⇒
rub it clean
- tr to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed ⇒
he rubbed ointment into his back
- tr to mix (fat) into flour with the fingertips, as in making pastry
- foll by off, out, away, etc to remove or be removed by rubbing
- (bowling) (of a bowl) to be slowed or deflected by an uneven patch on the green
- tr often foll by together 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)
noun
- the act of rubbing
-
See the rub
- something that hurts the feelings or annoys; rebuke
- (bowling) an uneven patch in the green
- any roughness or unevenness of surface
-
- (golf) an incident of accidental interference with the ball
- (informal) a piece of good or bad luck
Word Origin
C15: perhaps from Low German rubben, of obscure originTranslations for 'rub'
- British English: rub 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.rʌb VERB
- 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 trzeć
- Portuguese: esfregar
- Romanian: a freca
- Russian: тереть
- Spanish: frotar
- Swedish: gnida
- Thai: ถู
- Turkish: sürtmek
- Ukrainian: терти
- Vietnamese: cọrửa
Example Sentences Including 'rub'
As I was finishing Petite Claude sat up on the pallet and began to cry and rub her eyes.THE LADY AND THE UNICORN (2003)
But the aicc president knows that associating with a paralysed government for too long will ultimately rub off on the Congress itself.India Today (1997)
Dido shrieked: `That's the one who tried to rub my nose in the corpse!Ultimate Prizes
Former Wimbledon and Manchester United striker Gibson's enthusiasm would certainly rub off on the kids.Belfast Telegraph (2004)
Of course, a vet's wife must expect some of the odium to rub off on her where animals are concerned.The Disposal of the Living
Perhaps some of that therapy where women rub you down with scented oils.Belfast Telegraph (2003)
Several had burst when she began to move, leaving weeping patches of raw flesh to rub against the metal.TREASON KEEP (2001)
They believed that Cero had been hired as a hitman to rub out Joe.Toronto Sun (2003)
We've taken a pretty serious decision and we don't need to rub it in their faces.Globe and Mail (2003)
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