rub

Meaning

Noun

1. An act of rubbing.
2. A difficulty or problem.
3. (archaic) A quip or sarcastic remark.
4. In the game of crown green bowls, any obstacle by which a bowl is diverted from its normal course.
5. Any substance designed to be applied by rubbing.
6. Any substance designed to be applied by rubbing.
7. (UK, slang) A loan.

Verb

1. (transitive) To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
2. (intransitive) To be rubbed against something.
3. (transitive) To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
4. (dated) To move or pass with difficulty.
5. To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; often with up or over.
6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
7. (transitive) To touch the jack with the bowl.

Synonyms

wipe

scrub

massage

💆

chafe

scrape

scratch

scour

grind

polish

🇵🇱

smear

stroke

roll

knead

file

brush

mash

apply

abrade

sharpen

rub off

wash

🧽

grate

fray

clean

wipe off

pat

graze

fret

touch

wear

press

rubbing

caress

rub away

dust

anoint

pound

💷

burnish

spread

cleanse

rasp

erase

rub on

rub against

difficulty

irritate

hitch

friction

squeeze

rub in

Translations

frotter

reiben

frotar

esfregar

strofinare

wrijven

rouler

fregare

sfregare

τρίβω

restregar

enduire

frictionner

fregar

friccionar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹʌb/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: rubben

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: rubje

Cognate with Low German: rubblig

Cognate with Dutch: robben

Cognate with Danish: rubbe

Cognate with Icelandic: -

Cognate with Norwegian: -

In summary

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”)).