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   rub

   /rʌb/

   verb

   • 1. apply firm pressure to the surface of (something), using a repeated back and forth motion: "she rubbed her arm, where she had a large bruise" Similar massagekneadstrokepat
   • ▪ move (one's hand, a cloth, or another object) back and forth against a surface: "he rubbed a finger round the rim of his mug"
   • ▪ apply (ointment, polish, or a similar substance) with a back and forth motion: "she took out her sun cream and rubbed some on her nose" Similar applyput onsmearsmoothspreadwork incream in
   • ▪ make dry, clean, or smooth by rubbing: "she found a towel and began rubbing her hair"
   • ▪ 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 sepulchral brass or a stone) by rubbing paper laid on it with coloured wax, pencil, or chalk, etc.: "he was rubbing an old brass"
   • 2. (with reference to two things) move or cause to move to and fro against each other with a certain amount of 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
   • ▪ (of a bowl) 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 massagerub-downpolishbuffingwipeclean
   • ▪ 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. the central problem or difficulty in a situation: "that was the rub—she had not cared enough" Similar problemdifficultytroubledrawbackhindranceobstacleobstructionimpedimentsnaghitchcatch
   • 3. (in 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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