rub

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form rub

Third-person singular rubs

Past tense rubbed

Past participle rubbed

Present participle rubbing

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you rub something, you move against it, often backward and forward.

   The doctor was rubbing her hands to warm them.

   The dog came and rubbed against his leg.

   He rubbed the silver with a cloth until it shone.

See also

• rub out

Noun

Singular rub

Plural rubs

1. If you give somebody or something a rub, you rub them or massage them.

   After the game, he gave me a great shoulder rub.

   It'll come clean with a good rub.