rub

Formsrubs, rubbing, rubbed

Pluralrubs

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To press something against a surface and move it back and forth.

   Rub your hands together to warm them up.

   He rubbed the coin on his sleeve until it shone.

   Similarmassage, stroke, knead, scrub

   Note
2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To keep touching and moving against something else.

   My new shoes rub at the back of my heel.

   The door rubs against the floor when you open it.

   Similarscrape, chafe, grind, grate

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   The act of pressing and moving your hand or a cloth over something.

   She gave the dog's belly a rub.

   Give the table a quick rub with this cloth.

   Similarmassage, scrub, wipe, polish

4. 4
   nouncountable

   A problem or difficulty that makes a plan hard to carry out.

   Like a stone in your shoe that makes every step harder.

   The trip sounds fun, but the rub is the cost.

   There was just one rub: nobody had a key to the gate.

   Similarcatch, problem, snag, difficulty, hitch

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   A mix of spices pressed onto meat before it is barbecued.

   Dad put a sweet, smoky rub on the ribs last night.

   The rub made the chicken taste spicy and a little sweet.

   Similarseasoning

6. 6
   nouncountable

   A cream or other substance that you put on by rubbing it in.

   Mom put a menthol rub on my chest when I had a cold.

   The runner used a warming rub on his sore legs.

   Similarliniment, ointment, balm, salve, lotion

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To spread something in a thin layer over a surface.

   Rub some lotion on your arms before you go outside.

   She rubbed butter over the bread pan so the dough would not stick.

   Similarspread, smear, apply, massage

   Note
8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To clean or polish something to make it bright again.

   Rub the spoons up until they shine.

   She rubbed the old mirror clean with a soft cloth.

   Similarpolish, scour, burnish, buff, shine

   Note
9. 9
   verbtransitive

   To get in the way of a plan and stop it from working.

   Bad luck seemed to rub their plans at every turn.

   Their escape was rubbed by a guard who would not take the bribe.

   Similarthwart, hinder, frustrate, foil, obstruct

   Oppositehelp, further

   Note
10. 10
    nouncountable

    In the game of bowls, anything on the ground that pushes a rolling ball off its path.

    The ball hit a rub in the grass and rolled the wrong way.

    A small rub near the target made her shot miss.

    Note
11. 11
    verbtransitive

    In the game of bowls, to touch the small target ball with the ball you roll.

    Try to rub the jack gently so it does not move far.

    Her last bowl rubbed the jack and stopped right beside it.

    Similartouch, kiss, graze, brush

    Note
12. 12
    nounslangUKcountable

    Money that someone lends you for a short time.

    Can you give me a rub until payday?

    He paid the rub back as soon as his wages came in.

    Similarloan

    Note

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