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Synonyms

rubbing

American  
[ruhb-ing] / ˈrʌb ɪŋ /

noun

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

  2. 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.


rubbing British  
/ ˈrʌbɪŋ /

noun

  1. 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

"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

Etymology

Origin of rubbing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; rub, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the paintbrush rubbing against the calluses on your palms calls you back to the bar.

From Literature

I hear her sigh through the phone, and I know what she looks like, sitting with her elbows on the kitchen table, her thumb and index finger shaped like a V, rubbing her forehead.

From Literature

Then he scraped off the hairs -inexpertly, making several holes -and softened the hide by rubbing it with mashed deer brain.

From Literature

“Well, my ears are about to fall off,” Helen says, rubbing her earlobe.

From Literature

Kylie Jenner kept rubbing and patting Chalamet’s hand while he nervously jiggled his right leg.

From Los Angeles Times