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.
Compare typologically Latin fricō < friō < Proto-Indo-European *bʰreyH- (whence also Russian брить (britʹ, “to shave”)).
Meanings
An act of rubbing.
Give that lamp a good rub and see if any genies come out.
A difficulty or problem.
'My dear Devereux, I say, you mustn't talk in that wild way. You—you talk like a ruined man!'
'And I so comfortable!'
'Why, to be sure, Dick, you have had some little rubs, and, maybe, your follies and your vexations; but, hang it, you are young; you can't get experience—at least, so I've found it—without paying for it. […]' 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
[…] the propriety of the cabman's shelter, as it was called, hardly a stonesthrow away near Butt bridge where they might hit upon some drinkables in the shape of a milk and soda or a mineral. But how to get there was the rub. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[[Episode 16]]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
To die, to sleep— / To sleep—perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub! / For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, / Must give us pause c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
(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 heat rub intended for muscular strains
Any substance designed to be applied by rubbing. ▸ A mixture of spices applied to meat before it is barbecued.
catch (a difficulty or problem) · glitch (a difficulty or problem) · hitch (a difficulty or problem) · kink (a difficulty or problem) · snag (a difficulty or problem) · hiccup (a difficulty or problem)
Translations (27)
tr ovma (act of rubbing) · el τρίψιμο (act of rubbing) · cmn 摩擦 (act of rubbing) · it strofinamento (act of rubbing) · fi hankaus (act of rubbing) · zza vılênayış (act of rubbing) · fr friction (act of rubbing) · pt fricção (act of rubbing) · es frotamiento (act of rubbing) · ka ხახუნი (act of rubbing) · ru загво́здка (difficulty or problem) · es frotación (act of rubbing) · ru расти́рка (any substance designed to be applied by rubbing) · bg триене (act of rubbing) · hu dörzsölődés (act of rubbing) · sk šúchanie (act of rubbing) · es frote (act of rubbing) · bg затруднение (difficulty or problem) · hu dörzsölés (act of rubbing) · grc τρῖψις (act of rubbing) · bg търкане (act of rubbing) · ru затрудне́ние (difficulty or problem) · fr hic (difficulty or problem) · ru растира́ние (any substance designed to be applied by rubbing) · tr ovalama (act of rubbing) · sk trenie (act of rubbing) · hu súrlódás (act of rubbing)
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.
Compare typologically Latin fricō < friō < Proto-Indo-European *bʰreyH- (whence also Russian брить (britʹ, “to shave”)).
Meanings
(transitive) To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
I rubbed the cloth over the glass.
I couldn't rub the stain from the tablecloth.
[…] Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
I rubbed my hands together for warmth.
You ſhould rub your Teeth and whole Mouth and Gums, the Pallate and Tongue, with a clean courſe cloth, rubbing off the ſlime which groweth upon them in the night. 1680, T. K., The Kitchin-Phyſician; Or, a Guide for Good-Housewives in Maintaining Their Families in Health. […] , How to cleanſe the Teeth, and keep them ſound, page 44:
(intransitive) To be rubbed against something.
My shoes are beginning to rub.
(transitive) To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
The smoothed plank, […] / New rubbed with balm. 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
meat rubbed with spices before barbecuing
(dated) To move or pass with difficulty.
to rub through woods, as huntsmen
To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; often with up or over.
to rub up silver
The whole business of our redemption is, in short, only to rub over the defaced copy of the creation a. 1716, Robert South, Man Created in God's Image:
To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
'Tis the duke's pleasure, / Whose disposition, all the world well knows, / Will not be rubbed nor stopped. c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
(qualifier:bowls, transitive) To touch the jack with the bowl.
grc τρίβω (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sa घर्षति (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · es ungir (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · lo ຖູ (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · lt trinti (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · da skrabe (to rub something against (a second thing)) · it fregare (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · gl fregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · gl refregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · uk те́рти (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ca fregar (to rub something against (a second thing)) · izh hiuttaa (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · as ঘঁহা (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · pl trzeć (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · srn frifi (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ca polir (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · ast frotar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · yue 捽 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ca fregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · he שפשף (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi puunata (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · hu súrol (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · su kosok (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · id gosok (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sk trieť (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · alt јыш- (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · bn ঘষা (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · hu súrlódik (to be rubbed against something) · es ludir (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ltg treit (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · rup frec (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · la fricō (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · pl wcierać (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · arz فرك (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ur رگڑنا (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es frotar (to rub something against (a second thing)) · ky сүртүү (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · mi orooro (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · hu dörzsöl (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · az sürtülmək (to be rubbed against something) · ca fregar-se (to be rubbed against something) · ja 擦る (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de abreiben (to rub something against (a second thing)) · acw فرك (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · scn fricari (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es refrotar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · bg търкам (to rub something against (a second thing)) · mt għorok (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · enm rubben (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · hy շփել (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · cu трѣти (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · zea vrieve (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · enm rubben (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · ar حَكَّ (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ka გახახუნება (to rub something against (a second thing)) · gl fretar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · km ដដុស (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · oc fretar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · zza sawen (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ca untar (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · txb kānt- (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · mi mirimiri (to rub something against (a second thing)) · gd slìog (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de aufpolieren (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · hsb trěć (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · cs mnout (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ain シルシル (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · as মাজা (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · it strofinare (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · da polere (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · pl ocierać (to rub something against (a second thing)) · as সানা (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · sh трљати (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · nn gnida (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · az sürtdürmək (to rub something against (a second thing)) · sl trẹ́ti (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ang gnīdan (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es fricar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · da gnave (to be rubbed against something) · ru тере́ть (to rub something against (a second thing)) · enm rubben (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · id gosok (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · lo ຂັດ (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · kk уқалау (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · eo froti (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · cmn 揉 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sc friài (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · nn gnu (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · mi mirimiri (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ka ხახუნი (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · lb reiwen (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · alt сӱртер (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fr frotter (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · bg натривам (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · su kosok (to rub something against (a second thing)) · cmn 抹 (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · id gosok (to rub something against (a second thing)) · yi רײַבן (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sc fricare (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · qu thupay (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · izh heeroa (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi hangata (to rub something against (a second thing)) · mn урэх (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · az sürtmək (to rub something against (a second thing)) · fr frotter (to rub something against (a second thing)) · ga cuimil (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · km ជូត (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de reiben (to rub something against (a second thing)) · pap frega (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · as সনা (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · cmn 擦 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · el τρίβω (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sl drgniti (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de sich abreiben (to be rubbed against something) · enm rudden (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de sich abscheuern (to be rubbed against something) · fr frotter (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ka გახახუნება (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · vi cọ xát (to rub something against (a second thing)) · cmn 擦 (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · as মজা (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ru тере́ть (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · be це́рці (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · yue 擦 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · km ប្រនៀល (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi hinkata (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · gun kyty (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fur freâ (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · dsb trěś (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · hi रगड़ना (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · tr dokundurmak (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · gl esfregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ko 비비다 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es sobar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · da gnugge (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi hiertää (to be rubbed against something) · su kosok (to be rubbed against something) · ain シルシル (to rub something against (a second thing)) · es frotar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de reiben (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sc friare (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ky жышуу (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · az sürtmək (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · pt esfregar (to rub something against (a second thing)) · es restregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · mi pani (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · ba ышҡыу (to rub something against (a second thing)) · nl wrijven (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · vi cọ xát (to be rubbed against something) · pt esfregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · zlw-ocs dřieti (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sh рибати (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi hieroa (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de putzen (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · pt raspado (to be rubbed against something) · mk трие (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · lv trīt (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · cmn 磨 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sh ribati (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ba һөртөү (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · th ถู (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ckb سوون (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · de sich ablaufen (to be rubbed against something) · cs třít (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fa مالیدن (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es estregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ba уҡалау (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · acw دَعَك (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ba ышҡыу (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · az ovuşdurmaq (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ba ышҡыу (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es friccionar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fr polir (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · tg молидан (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · th ขัด (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es fregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sv gnida (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · id gosok (to be rubbed against something) · zza werênen (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ro freca (to rub something against (a second thing)) · nrf frotter (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · csm čijá·k- (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · vi thoa (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · uz ishqalamoq (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · tr sürtmek (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es frotarse (to be rubbed against something) · ru потере́ть (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · vi xoa (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · csb trzéc (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sv gnugga (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · da pudse (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · su kosok (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · th สี (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es colidir (desus.) (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · cmn 蹭 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ast esfregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · km ឈ្លី (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · lo ສີ (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es refregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ak twiw (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es resobar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · rm sgrattar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · da smørre (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · ttj -singa (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi hieroa (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · sc frigare (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · hu súrol (to rub something against (a second thing)) · de polieren (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · sh trljati (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · sv gno (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · fi hangata (to scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse) · da gnide (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · enm rubben (to rub something against (a second thing)) · ar فَرَكَ (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · cmn 擦 (to rub something against (a second thing)) · de einreiben (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · ba ышҡылыу (to be rubbed against something) · ttj -kuuba (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · bg три́я (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · my ပွတ် (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ru потере́ть (to rub something against (a second thing)) · lt perbraukti (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · yue 磨 (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · zea vruve (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · es untar (to spread a substance thinly over; to smear) · oc fregar (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · ro freca (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · mi orooro (to rub something against (a second thing)) · sq fërkoj (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area) · hu dörgöl (to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area)