verb
rub
ruhb
verb
1
To move something back and forth against a surface while pressing on it.
"She rubbed her hands together to warm them up."
"He rubbed the stain with a damp cloth until it faded."
2
To spread a substance over a surface by pressing and moving it around.
"Rub the paste into the meat before grilling it."
noun
1
A mixture of spices and seasonings pressed onto meat before cooking.
"He coated the ribs in a smoky dry rub before smoking them."
2
A difficulty or snag in a plan or situation.
"The rub is that we don't have the budget to finish on time."
How to Use Rub
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo press and move something against a surface — or, as a noun, a seasoning blend, or the tricky part of a problem.
Common mistake
"There's the rub" (from Shakespeare) means "that's the problem/difficulty" — it doesn't refer to a physical rub at all.
Common pairings
rub your eyes
dry rub
the rub is that…
Word Forms
rubbed past tense, rubs plural, rubs singular
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_____ the paste into the meat before grilling it.
Etymology
From Middle English rubben, of uncertain origin, likely from a Germanic root related to scraping or rubbing.