RUBBING

friction, detrition, rubbing

(noun) effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure

rubbing

(noun) representation consisting of a copy (as of an engraving) made by laying paper over something and rubbing it with charcoal

friction, rubbing

(noun) the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another

RUB

rub

(verb) move over something with pressure; “rub my hands”; “rub oil into her skin”

rub, fray, fret, chafe, scratch

(verb) cause friction; “my sweater scratches”

rub, scratch, itch

(verb) scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; “Don’t scratch your insect bites!”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

rubbing (plural rubbings)

An impression of an embossed or incised surface made by placing a piece of paper over it and rubbing with graphite, crayon or other coloring agent.

Etymology 2

Verb

rubbing

present participle of rub

Source: Wiktionary


Rub"bing,

Definition: a. & n. from Rub, v.

RUB

Rub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rubbing.] Etym: [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. Shak. 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, v. 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, n. Etym: [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. Shak. To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub. Shak. 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. Rub iron, an iron guard on a wagon body, against which a wheel rubs when cramped too much.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


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