Rub  —v. (-bb-) 1 move something, esp. One's hand, with firm pressure over the surface of. 2 (usu. Foll. By against, in, on, over) apply (one's hand etc.) In this way. 3 clean, polish, chafe, or make dry, sore, or bare by rubbing. 4 (foll. By in, into, through, over) apply (polish etc.) By rubbing. 5 (often foll. By together, against, on) move with contact or friction or slide (objects) against each other. 6 (of cloth, skin, etc.) Become frayed, worn, sore, or bare with friction. —n. 1 act or spell of rubbing (give it a rub). 2 impediment or difficulty (there's the rub).  rub along colloq. Cope or manage routinely. Rub down dry, smooth, or clean by rubbing. Rub it in (or rub a person's nose in it) emphasize or repeat an embarrassing fact etc. Rub off 1 (usu. Foll. By on) be transferred by contact, be transmitted (his attitudes have rubbed off on me). 2 remove by rubbing. Rub out erase with a rubber. Rub shoulders with associate with. Rub up 1 polish. 2 brush up (a subject or one's memory). Rub up the wrong way irritate. [low german]