'Rub' definitions:

Definition of 'rub'

(from WordNet)
noun
An unforeseen obstacle [syn: hang-up, hitch, rub, snag]
noun
The act of rubbing or wiping; "he gave the hood a quick rub" [syn: rub, wipe]
verb
Move over something with pressure; "rub my hands"; "rub oil into her skin"
verb
Cause friction; "my sweater scratches" [syn: rub, fray, fret, chafe, scratch]
verb
Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; "Don't scratch your insect bites!" [syn: rub, scratch, itch]

Definition of 'Rub'

From: GCIDE
  • Rub \Rub\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rubbing.] [Probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. rhwbiaw, gael. rub.]
  • 1. To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the action of something moving back and forth; as, to rub the flesh with the hand; to rub wood with sandpaper. [1913 Webster]
  • It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned, to rub the body with a coarse linen cloth. --Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body. [1913 Webster]
  • Two bones rubbed hard against one another. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To spread a substance thinly over; to smear. [1913 Webster]
  • The smoothed plank, . . . New rubbed with balm. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often with up or over; as, to rub up silver. [1913 Webster]
  • The whole business of our redemption is to rub over the defaced copy of the creation. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • 'T is the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, Will not be rubbed nor stopped. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • To rub down. (a) To clean by rubbing; to comb or curry; as, to down a horse. (b) To reduce or remove by rubbing; as, to rub down the rough points.
  • To rub off, to clean anything by rubbing; to separate by friction; as, to rub off rust.
  • To rub out, to remove or separate by friction; to erase; to obliterate; as, to rub out a mark or letter; to rub out a stain.
  • To rub up. (a) To burnish; to polish; to clean. (b) To excite; to awaken; to rouse to action; as, to rub up the memory. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rub'

From: GCIDE
  • Rub \Rub\, v. i.
  • 1. To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate; as, a wheel rubs against the gatepost. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as huntsmen; to rub through the world. [1913 Webster]
  • To rub along or on, to go on with difficulty; as, they manage, with strict economy, to rub along. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rub'

From: GCIDE
  • Rub \Rub\, n. [Cf. W. rhwb. See Rub, v,t,]
  • 1. The act of rubbing; friction. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment; especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome; a pinch. [1913 Webster]
  • Every rub is smoothed on our way. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Upon this rub, the English ambassadors thought fit to demur. --Hayward. [1913 Webster]
  • One knows not, certainly, what other rubs might have been ordained for us by a wise Providence. --W. Besant. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; unevenness. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a hard rub. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Imperfection; failing; fault. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A chance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Flight shall leave no Greek a rub. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a whetstone; -- called also rubstone. [1913 Webster]
  • Rub iron, an iron guard on a wagon body, against which a wheel rubs when cramped too much.
  • Rub of the green (Golf), anything happening to a ball in motion, such as its being deflected or stopped by any agency outside the match, or by the fore caddie. [1913 Webster + Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Synonyms of 'rub'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Rub'