2026

Rub

//ɹʌb//

Definitions

1
An act of rubbing.
Give that lamp a good rub and see if any genies come out.
2
A difficulty or problem.
To die, to sleep— / To sleep—perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub! / For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, / Must give us pause
Similar
hitch hiccup catch
3
Any of a group of proteins similar to ubiquitin

1
To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
I rubbed the cloth over the glass.
2
To be rubbed against something.

Word Origin

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”), Ger...

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Rub

//ɹʌb//

Definitions

nounrubs · RUBs

1
An act of rubbing.
Give that lamp a good rub and see if any genies come out.
2
A difficulty or problem.
To die, to sleep— / To sleep—perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub! / For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, / Must give us pause
Similar
hitch hiccup catch
3
Any of a group of proteins similar to ubiquitin

verbrubs · rubbing · rubbed

1
To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
I rubbed the cloth over the glass.
2
To be rubbed against something.

Word Origin

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”), Ger...

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Translations

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My shoes are beginning to rub.

3

To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.

meat rubbed with spices before barbecuing