rubbing

[ ruhb-ing ]

/ ˈrʌb ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rubbing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or action of a person or thing that rubs.

an impression of an incised or sculptured surface made by laying paper over it and rubbing with heelball, graphite, or a similar substance until the image appears.

Nearby words

rubberize, rubberman disease, rubberneck, rubbery, rubbia, rubbing, rubbing alcohol, rubbish, rubbish bin, rubbishy, rubbity

Compare brass-rubbing.

Origin of rubbing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rub, -ing¹

Definition for rubbing (2 of 2)

rub

[ ruhb ]

/ rʌb /

verb (used with object), rubbed, rub·bing.

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.

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.

to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person: to rub lotion on her chapped hands.

to move (two things) with pressure and friction over or back and forth over each other (often followed by together): He rubbed his hands together.

to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, or into).

to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off or out).

verb (used without object), rubbed, rub·bing.

to exert pressure and friction on something.

to move with pressure against something.

to admit of being rubbed in a specified manner: Chalk rubs off easily.

Chiefly British. to proceed, continue in a course, or keep going with effort or difficulty (usually followed by on, along, or through): He manages to rub along.

noun

an act or instance of rubbing: an alcohol rub.

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.

an annoying experience or circumstance.

an obstacle, impediment, or difficulty: We'd like to travel, but the rub is that we have no money.

a rough or abraded area caused by rubbing.

Verb Phrases

rub down,

to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to: to rub a chair down with sandpaper.
to give a massage to.

rub off on, to become transferred or communicated to by example or association: Some of his good luck must have rubbed off on me.

rub out,

to obliterate; erase.
Slang. to murder: They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.

Origin of rub

1300–50; 1860–65 for def 18b; Middle English rubben (v.); cognate with Frisian rubben, Danish rubbe, Swedish rubba

SYNONYMS FOR rub

14 hitch, catch, thing, trouble, pinch.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rub ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

un·rubbed, adjectivewell-rubbed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rubbing

The better she does,” she said, rubbing the skin around the clamps, “the heavier it gets.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Establishment figures, Tea Partiers, evangelicals, and libertarians will all be rubbing elbows at a single theater.
The Most Interesting Place to Be Tonight|Tim Mak|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the past week, political junkies throughout my home city of Chicago have been rubbing our hands in giddy anticipation.
Could Rahm Lose to This Infamous Union Leader?|Kathleen Geier|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He got a deck of cards and straddled one of the rubbing tables.
Gordie Howe Hockey’s Greatest War Horse|W.C. Heinz|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Everybody was rubbing elbows—and other body parts—all the time.
Why Did Llewyn Davis’s Greenwich Village Disappear?|Andrew Romano|December 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"We will go for a walk to-day," said the oblate, rubbing his hands.
En Route|J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans
Every one has heard, and most believe, that fire may be easily produced by rubbing together two pieces of wood.
Getting Gold|J. C. F. Johnson
The doctor came to a full halt, his face very red, his eyes suffused, and fell to rubbing both hands through and through his hair.
The Brentons|Anna Chapin Ray
"We'll give 'em what for, sir," exclaimed Sturge, rubbing his hands.
Carry On!|Herbert Strang
Leah stood up in the window-seat, rubbing the panes of glass dimmed with smoke.
Jane Eyre|Charlotte Bronte

British Dictionary definitions for rubbing (1 of 2)

rubbing

/ (ˈrʌbɪŋ) /

noun

an impression taken of an incised or raised surface, such as a brass plate on a tomb, by laying paper over it and rubbing with wax, graphite, etc

British Dictionary definitions for rubbing (2 of 2)

rub

/ (rʌb) /

verb rubs, rubbing or 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 rubbingrub it clean

(tr) to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbedhe 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

bowls (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)

rub someone's nose in it informal to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error

rub up the wrong way to arouse anger (in); annoy

rub shoulders with or rub elbows with informal to mix with socially or associate with

noun

the act of rubbing

the rub an obstacle or difficulty (esp in the phrase there's the rub)

something that hurts the feelings or annoys; rebuke

bowls 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

See also rub along, rub down, rub in, rub off, rub out, rub up

Word Origin for rub

C15: perhaps from Low German rubben, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for rubbing

rub

[ rŭb ]

n.

The application of friction and pressure.

Such a procedure applied to the body.

Idioms and Phrases with rubbing

rub

In addition to the idioms beginning with rub

rub down
rub elbows with
rub in
rub off on
rub one's hands
rub out
rub someone's nose in it
rub the wrong way
rub up on

also see:

the rub

rubbing

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of rubbing

Definition for rubbing (2 of 2)

rub

verb (used with object), rubbed, rub·bing.

verb (used without object), rubbed, rub·bing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of rub

SYNONYMS FOR rub

Related forms

Examples from the Web for rubbing

British Dictionary definitions for rubbing (1 of 2)

rubbing

noun

British Dictionary definitions for rubbing (2 of 2)

rub

verb rubs, rubbing or rubbed

noun

Word Origin for rub

Medicine definitions for rubbing

rub

n.

Idioms and Phrases with rubbing

rub