Dictionary
rub
Pronunciation: (rub), [key]
—v., rubbed, rub•bing,
—n.
—
v.t.
1. to subject the surface of (a thing or person) to pressure and friction, as in cleaning, smoothing, polishing, coating, massaging, or soothing:
to rub a table top with wax polish; to rub the entire back area.
2. to move (something) back and forth or with a rotary motion, as against or along another surface:
to rub the cloth over the glass pane.
3. to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person:
to rub lotion on her chapped hands.
4. to move (two things) with pressure and friction over or back and forth over each other (often fol. by
together):
He rubbed his hands together.
5. to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often fol. by
over, in, or
into).
6. to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often fol. by
off or
out).
—
v.i.
1. to exert pressure and friction on something.
2. to move with pressure against something.
3. to admit of being rubbed in a specified manner:
Chalk rubs off easily.
4. Chiefly Brit.to proceed, continue in a course, or keep going with effort or difficulty (usually fol. by
on, along, or
through):
He manages to rub along.
5. rub down,
a. to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to:
to rub a chair down with sandpaper.
b. to give a massage to.
6. rub it in, Informal.to emphasize or reiterate something unpleasant in order to tease or annoy:
The situation was embarrassing enough without having you rub it in.
7. rub off on, to become transferred or communicated to by example or association:
Some of his good luck must have rubbed off on me.
8. rub out,
a. to obliterate; erase.
b. Slang.to murder:
They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.
9. rub the wrong way, to irritate; offend; annoy:
a manner that seemed to rub everyone the wrong way.
10. rub up, Brit. Informal.to refresh one's memory of (a subject, language, etc.).
—
n.
1. an act or instance of rubbing:
an alcohol rub.
2. something that annoys or irritates one's feelings, as a sharp criticism, a sarcastic remark, or the like:
to resent rubs concerning one's character.
3. an annoying experience or circumstance.
4. an obstacle, impediment, or difficulty:
We'd like to travel, but the rub is that we have no money.
5. a rough or abraded area caused by rubbing.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
