Definitions and meaning of rub
rub
English
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English rubben, of unknown origin; possibly ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rubbōną, related to *reufaną (“to tear”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian rubje (“to rub, scrape”), German Low German rubben (“to rub”), Low German rubblig (“rough, uneven”), Dutch robben, rubben (“to rub smooth; scrape; scrub”), Danish rubbe (“to rub, scrub”), Icelandic and Norwegian rubba (“to scrape”).
More at reave.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA(key): /ɹʌb/, enPR: rŭb
- (Northern England, Ireland) IPA(key): /ɹʊb/
- Rhymes: -ʌb
Noun
rub (plural rubs)
- An act of rubbing.
- A difficulty or problem.
- (archaic) A quip or sarcastic remark.
- In the game of crown green bowls, any obstacle by which a bowl is diverted from its normal course.
- Any substance designed to be applied by rubbing.
- A mixture of spices applied to meat before it is barbecued.
- (UK, naval slang) A loan.
Synonyms
- (a difficulty or problem): hitch, hiccup, catch, kink, glitch, snag
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
rub (third-person singular simple present rubs, present participle rubbing, simple past and past participle rubbed)
- (transitive) To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
- (intransitive) To be rubbed against something.
- (transitive) To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
- (dated) To move or pass with difficulty.
- To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; often with up or over.
- To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
- (transitive, bowls) To touch the jack with the bowl.
Derived terms
Translations
References
Further reading
- “rub”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “rub”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
- “rub”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “rub”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Anagrams
Czech
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *rǫbъ (“something which was cut”), from *rǫbati (“to cut, chop”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈrup]
- Rhymes: -up
- Homophone: rup
Noun
rub m inan
- back (the reverse side)
- Antonym: líc
- rub karty ― back of the card
- rub mince ― reverse of the coin
- the other (often negative) aspect of a situation
Declension
Derived terms
See also
References
Further reading
- “rub”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
- “rub”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
- “rub”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025
Lower Sorbian
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Verb
rub
- second-person singular imperative of rubaś
Manx
Etymology
Borrowed from English rub.
Noun
rub m (genitive singular rub, plural rubbyn)
- rub
Verb
rub (verbal noun rubbey or rubbal)
- to rub
Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *rǫbъ.
Pronunciation
Noun
rȗb m (Cyrillic spelling ру̑б)
- rim
- edge, brink
Declension
Yola
Etymology
From Middle English ribbe, from Old English ribb, from Proto-West Germanic *ribi.
Pronunciation
Noun
rub (plural rubbès)
- rib
References
- Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 65
Source: wiktionary.org