Pronunciation

/rʌb/

Definitions

Noun

• A rubbing, especially of a surface or material: “The precious stone’s luster was visible in the polished rub.”
• An action or motion that rubs: “She rubbed her hands together for warmth.”
• (Informal) A massage: “He got a back rub after a long day at work.”

Verb

• To move one surface over another in a frictional manner: “She rubbed the pencil on the eraser.”
• To clean or smooth by friction: “He rubbed the table with a cloth.”
• To alleviate or relieve pain or discomfort through friction: “She rubbed his temples to soothe his headache.”
• To cause annoyance or irritation: “His constant complaining rubbed me the wrong way.”

Adjective

• Smooth or sleek: “The leather sofa had a soft rub to it.”
• Characteristic of friction or rubbing: “The old floorboards had a distinct rub to them.”

Adverb

• In a rubbing motion: “He rubbed gently along the fabric.”

Phrases

• “Give someone a rub” means to massage or comfort them.
• “A rub-down” refers to a thorough massage.
• “Rough rub” can mean a harsh or abrasive action.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The artist carefully rubbed out the smudge on the canvas.”
• Verb: “She rubbed the mud off her shoes before entering the house.”
• Adjective: “The smooth rub of the silk felt luxurious against her skin.”
• Adverb: “He rubbed his eyes wearily after a long day.”

Synonyms

• Friction
• Rubbing
• Massage
• Exfoliation
• Polishing
• Scrubbing (informal)