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   Rub

   /rəb/

   

   verb

   • 1. move one's hand or a cloth repeatedly back and forth on the surface of (something) with firm pressure: "she rubbed her arm, where she had a large bruise" Similar massagekneadstrokepat
   • ▪ move (one's hand, a cloth, or another object) back and forth over a surface: "he rubbed a finger around the rim of his mug"
   • ▪ (with reference to two things) to move or cause to move to and fro against each other with a certain amount of pressure and friction: "many insects make noises by rubbing parts of their bodies together"
   • ▪ (of shoes or other hard items in contact with the skin) cause pain through friction: "badly fitting shoes can rub painfully" Similar chafepinchscrapeabradehurtbe sorebe painful
   • ▪ make dry, clean, or smooth with pressure from a hand, cloth, or other object: "she found a towel and began rubbing her hair"
   • ▪ spread (ointment, polish, or a substance of similar consistency) over a surface with repeated movements of one's hand or a cloth: "she took out her sunblock and rubbed some on her nose" Similar applyput onsmearsmoothspreadwork incream in
   • ▪ work an ingredient into (a mixture) by breaking and blending it with firm movements of one's fingers: "sift the flour into a bowl and rub in the fat"
   • ▪ reproduce the design of (a gravestone, memorial tablet, etc.) by laying paper on it and rubbing the paper with charcoal, colored chalk, etc.
   • ▪ (of a bowl in lawn bowling) be slowed or diverted by the unevenness of the ground.

   noun

   • 1. an act of rubbing: "she pulled out a towel and gave her head a quick rub" Similar massagerubdownpolishbuffingwipeclean
   • ▪ an ointment designed to be rubbed on the skin to ease pain: "a muscle rub"
   • ▪ a mixture of spices and other seasonings that is applied to the surface of meat or fish before cooking: "he will be using coffee in a rub for a rack of lamb"
   • 2. a difficulty, especially one of central importance in a situation: "that was the rub—she had not cared enough" Similar problemdifficultytroubledrawbackhindranceobstacleobstructionimpedimentsnaghitchcatch
   • 3. (in lawn bowling) an uneven patch of ground that impedes or diverts a bowl.

   Word Origin Middle English (as a verb): perhaps from Low German rubben, of unknown ultimate origin. The noun dates from the late 16th century.

   Scrabble Points: 5

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • B

     3

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