Category:Rub

Rub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rubbing.] Etym: [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. It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned, to rub the body With a coarse linen cloth. Sir t. Elyot.

2. To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; To graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground.

3. To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a Surface; as, to rub the hand over the body. Two bones rubbed hard against one another. Arbuthnot.

4. To spread a substance thinly over; to smear. The smoothed plank,. . . New rubbed with balm. Milton.

5. To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often With up or over; as, to rub up silver. The whole business of our redemption is to rub over the defaced copy Of the creation. South.

6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart. [r.] 't is the duke's pleasure, whose disposition, all the world well Knows, will not be rubbed nor stopped. Shak. 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.

Rub Rub, v. i.

1. To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate; as, a Wheel rubs against the gatepost.

2. To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore.

3. To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as Huntsmen; to rub through the world. To rub along or on, to go on with Difficulty; as, they manage, with strict economy, to rub along. [colloq.]

Rub Rub, n. Etym: [cf. W. rhwb. See rub, v,t,]

1. The act of rubbing; friction.

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. Every rub is smoothed on our way. Shak. To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub. Shak. Upon this rub, the english ambassadors thought fit to demur. Hayward. One knows not, certainly, what other rubs might have been ordained For us by a wise providence. W. Besant.

3. Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; Unevenness. Shak.

4. Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a hard rub.

5. Imperfection; failing; fault. [obs.] Beau. & fl.

6. A chance. [obs.] Flight shall leave no greek a rub. Chapman.

7. A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a Whetstone; -- called also rubstone. Rub iron, an iron guard on a Wagon body, against which a wheel rubs when cramped too much.