RUB

rub. Rub, v. to clean, scour, polish, fret, get through

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Rub (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rubbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rubbing.] [[Probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. rhwbiaw, gael. rub.]] 1. 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. 2. To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground.
3. 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. 4. To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
The smoothed plank, . . . New rubbed with balm. Milton. 5. 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. 6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
'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.