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Webster 1913 Edition

Rub

Rub

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Rubbed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Rubbing
.]
[Probably of Celtic origin; cf. W.
rhwbiaw
, gael.
rub
.]
1.
To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the action of something moving back and forth;
as, to
rub
the flesh with the hand; to
rub
wood with sandpaper
.
It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned, to
rub
the body with a coarse linen cloth.
Sir T. Elyot.
2.
To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe;
as, the boat
rubs
the ground
.
3.
To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface;
as, to
rub
the hand over the body
.
Two bones
rubbed
hard against one another.
Arbuthnot.
4.
To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
The smoothed plank, . . .
New
rubbed
with balm.
Milton.
5.
To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; – often with up or over;
as, to
rub
up silver
.
The whole business of our redemption is to
rub
over the defaced copy of the creation.
South.
6.
To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
[R.]
’T is the duke's pleasure,
Whose disposition, all the world well knows,
Will not be
rubbed
nor stopped.
Shakespeare
To rub down
.
(a)
To clean by rubbing; to comb or curry; as, to down a horse
.
(b)
To reduce or remove by rubbing; as, to rub down the rough points.
–
To rub off
,
to clean anything by rubbing; to separate by friction;
as,
to rub off
rust
.
–
To rub out
,
to remove or separate by friction; to erase; to obliterate;
as,
to rub out
a mark or letter;
to rub out
a stain
.
–
To rub up
.
(a)
To burnish; to polish; to clean
.
(b)
To excite; to awaken; to rouse to action;
as,
to rub up
the memory
.

Rub

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate;
as, a wheel
rubs
against the gatepost
.
2.
To fret; to chafe;
as, to
rub
upon a sore
.
3.
To move or pass with difficulty;
as, to
rub
through woods, as huntsmen; to
rub
through the world
.
To rub along
or
on
,
to go on with difficulty;
as, they manage, with strict economy,
to rub along
.
[Colloq.]

Rub

,
Noun.
[Cf. W.
rhwb
. See Rub, v,t,]
1.
The act of rubbing; friction.
2.
That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment; especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome; a pinch.
Every
rub
is smoothed on our way.
Shakespeare
To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the
rub
.
Shakespeare
Upon this
rub
, the English ambassadors thought fit to demur.
Hayward.
One knows not, certainly, what other
rubs
might have been ordained for us by a wise Providence.
W. Besant.
3.
Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; unevenness.
Shak.
4.
Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke;
as, a hard
rub
.
5.
Imperfection; failing; fault.
[Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
6.
A chance.
[Obs.]
Flight shall leave no Greek a
rub
.
Chapman.
7.
A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a whetstone; – called also
rubstone
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Rub

RUB

,
Verb.
T.
[L. probrum, exprobro; Gr. to rub. We have the elements of the word in scrape, scrub, L. scribo, Gr.]
1.
To move something along the surface of a body with pressure; as, to rub the face or arms with the hand; to rub the body with flannel. Vessels are scoured or cleaned by rubbing them.
2.
To wipe; to clean; to scour; but rub is a generic term, applicable to friction for every purpose.
3.
To touch so as to leave behind something which touches; to spread over; as to rub any thing with oil.
4.
To polish; to retouch; with over.
The whole business of our redemption is to rub over the defaced copy of the creation.
5.
To obstruct by collision. [Unusual.]
In popular language, rub is used for teasing, fretting, upbraiding, reproaching or vexing with gibes or sarcasms.
To rub down, to clean by rubbing; to comb or curry, as a horse.
To rub off, to clean any thing by rubbing; to separate by friction; as, to rub off rust.
1.
To rub out, to erase; to obliterate; as, to rub out marks or letters.
2.
To remove or separate by friction; as, to rub out a stain.
To rub upon, to touch hard.
1.
To rub up, to burnish; to polish; to clean.
2.
To excite; to awaken; to rouse to action; as, to rub up the memory.

RUB

, v.i.
1.
To move along the surface of a body with pressure; as, a wheel rubs against the gate-post.
2.
To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore.
3.
To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as huntsmen; to rub through the world.

RUB

,
Noun.
1.
The act of rubbing; friction.
2.
That which renders motion or progress difficult; collision; hinderance; obstruction.
Now every rub is smoothed in our way.
Upon this rub the English embassadors thought fit to demur.
All sort of rubs will be laid in the way.
3.
Inequality of ground that hinders the motion of a bowl.
4.
Difficulty; cause of uneasiness; pinch.
To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub.
5.
Sarcasm; joke; something grating to the feelings.

RUB

,

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