[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/rub/)

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# rub

verb (rub, rubs, rubbed, rubbing); noun (a rub)

«rub» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To rub is to move your hand or something else backwards and forwards over a surface, pressing on it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#m1)
2. To rub something in or on is to spread it by rubbing: rub in sun cream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#m2)
3. To rub out (UK) is to remove pencil marks with a rubber. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#m3)
4. A rub is the act of rubbing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, rubbing two things together makes friction and heat: rub your hands to warm them; rubbing a balloon on hair makes static electricity. In health, do not rub your eyes with dirty hands. Phrases: «rub it in» (keep reminding someone of a mistake), «rub someone up the wrong way» (annoy them), «rub shoulders with» (meet important people).

### Examples

- Rub your hands together to keep warm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x1)
- Don't rub your eyes — wash them with water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x2)
- Rub sun cream into your skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x3)
- Rub out the wrong answer and try again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x4)
- The cat rubbed against my legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x5)
- Rubbing a balloon makes it stick to the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x6)
- My new shoes rub my heels. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x7)
- OK, I lost — don't rub it in! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x8)
- She rubbed another match on the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/#x9)

### Note

Double the b: rubbed, rubbing. In the UK a «rubber» is an eraser; in the US «rubber» can mean something else, so Americans say «eraser».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «rub» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rub/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rub» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rub.html) on Mova free.