Definition of rub - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
applicationsubstance applied by rubbing
- Apply the rub evenly on the meat.
2.
problemUS difficulty or obstacleUS
- The main rub of the project was the tight budget..
3.
challengeTECH. obstacle in a gameTECH.
- The ball hit a rub on the green.
4.
therapyRare massage or act of massagingRare
- He went for a relaxing back rub.
Verb
1.
apply pressuretr./intr. move hand or cloth back and forth on a surface with pressuretr./intr.
- She continued to rub the stain on the shirt vigorously..
2.
spread substancetr. apply a substance to a surface with a repeated motiontr.
- He decided to rub oil into the wooden table to enhance its shine..
3.
irritatetr. cause slight irritation or discomfort to someonetr.
- His constant complaining began to rub her the wrong way..
Expressions with rub
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apply a substance by rubbing it onto a surface
She rubbed in the lotion gently.
clean or dry by rubbing
She used a towel to rub down the wet horse.
apply a substance onto a surface by rubbing
She rubbed the lotion into her skin.
remove by rubbing
The label will rub off if you scrub it hard.
move hands against each other for warmth
She rubbed her hands to stay warm in the cold.
animals touch someone seeking attention
The dog would rub up against its owner for attention.
spend time with others in social situations
She loves to rub elbows at parties.
make a painful situation worse by reminding someone of it
He rubbed salt in her wounds by mentioning the lost game again.
make an injury or pain feel worse by adding more hurt
He rubbed salt in the wound by reminding her of the mistake.
make someone feel worse after something bad happened
Losing the game was hard, but his teasing rubbed salt into the wound.
make someone feel annoyed or upset by the way you act
He often rubs his boss up the wrong way without meaning to.
minimal money available, showing financial scarcity
He barely had two nickels to rub together after paying bills.
minimal money to live on or any money at all
He doesn't have two pennies to rub together after paying bills.
irritate or annoy someone with actions or words
His comments always rub me the wrong way.
remind someone of their mistake to embarrass them
He kept rubbing her face in the error she made.
the main problem or difficulty in a situation
We can go to the beach, but the rub is the weather.
maintain a friendly relationship without conflict
Even with differences, they rub along quite well.
meet and spend time with someone
She loves to rub elbows with celebrities at parties.
emphasize someone's mistake to make them feel worse
He kept rubbing it in after I lost the game.
become part of someone through exposure
Her enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone in the team.
say or do something to make someone feel worse
He rubbed salt into her wounds by mentioning her failure.
associate or mix socially with others
At the gala, I had the chance to rub shoulders with many influential artists..
make someone feel annoyed or offended by your manner
His comments always rub her up the wrong way.
remind someone of their mistake to embarrass them
She rubbed his nose in the error during the meeting.
Origin of rub
Old French, ruber (to scrape)
Terms with rub included in their meaning
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itch relief
rub skin with nails to relieve itching
medical
rub and knead someone's body for relaxation
skin
scratch or rub to relieve an itch
application
rub powdered substance on equipment to improve grip
pressing action
press or rub with the knuckles
rubbing
rub a surface using abrasive paper
showing affection
rub gently with the nose to show affection
cleaning action
rub a surface with cleanser to remove dirt
rubbing
rub against something causing irritation
body reaction
clench and rub teeth together, showing anger, frustration or distress
dental
rub teeth together unconsciously due to stress or sleep
injury
scrape or rub off skin
skincare
rub moisturizer into skin
warming rub
rub to create warmth or heat
smoothing
rub a rough surface with abrasive volcanic rock
cleaning
rub with a soft cotton cloth to remove dirt
cosmetics
cream for skin that disappears after you rub it in
cleaning
rub with soft lint to polish metal
physical action
lightly rub someone's back with fingernails
nose gesture
upward nose rub often seen in children with allergies
health rub
oil pressed from tree seeds applied for medical treatment
games
playful headlock with knuckle rub on head
preparation
rub sticky pine resin onto an instrument or tool for better grip
vulva rubbing
sexual act where two women rub their vulvas together
Examples of rub in a sentence
The rub gave the chicken a spicy flavor. The rub with this plan is its high cost. Finding a reliable supplier was the rub in the process. There's a rub in the rules we didn't see. The rub in the plan was the budget constraint. She enjoyed a soothing foot rub after work.
A gentle rub can relieve muscle tension. He began to rub the fog off the mirror. The cat loves it when you rub its belly. She began to rub lotion onto her dry skin. You should rub wax on the car to protect the paint. The tag on his shirt started to rub his neck. Her sarcastic tone began to rub him.
View all translations of rub
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:rub, frotter, ...
- German:Einreibemittel, reiben, ...
- Italian:miscela, strofinare, ...
- Spanish:adobo, restregar, ...
- Portuguese:pasta, esfregar, ...
- Chinese:涂抹料, 擦, ...
- Japanese:塗り薬, こする, ...
- Arabic:تَبْلِيلَة, فَرَكَ, ...
- Hebrew:שִׁפְשׁוּף, לְשַׁפְשֵׁף, ...
- Russian:втирание, тереть, ...
- Ukrainian:суміш, терти, ...
- Hindi:मसाला, रगड़ना, ...
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