rub

Definitions

1. noun

   An act of rubbing.

   Example

   • Give that lamp a good rub and see if any genies come out.
2. noun

   A difficulty or problem.

   Examples

   • 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
   • […] the propriety of the cabman's shelter, as it was called, hardly a stonesthrow away near Butt bridge where they might hit upon some drinkables in the shape of a milk and soda or a mineral. But how to get there was the rub.
   ≈hitch≈hiccup≈catch≈kink≈glitch +1 more
3. noun

   A quip or sarcastic remark.

4. noun

   In the game of crown green bowls, any obstacle by which a bowl is diverted from its normal course.

5. noun

   Any substance designed to be applied by rubbing.

   Example

   • a heat rub intended for muscular strains
6. noun

   A mixture of spices applied to meat before it is barbecued.

7. noun

   A loan.

8. verb

   To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.

   Examples

   • I rubbed the cloth over the glass.
   • The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
9. verb

   To be rubbed against something.

   Example

   • My shoes are beginning to rub.
10. verb

    To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.

    Examples

    • meat rubbed with spices before barbecuing
    • The smoothed plank, […] / New rubbed with balm.