rub

Everyday

1. To rub is to move your hand or something else backwards and forwards over a surface, pressing on it. tree →
2. To rub something in or on is to spread it by rubbing: rub in sun cream. tree →
3. To rub out (UK) is to remove pencil marks with a rubber. tree →
4. A rub is the act of rubbing. tree →

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 →
• Don't rub your eyes — wash them with water. tree →
• Rub sun cream into your skin. tree →
• Rub out the wrong answer and try again. tree →
• The cat rubbed against my legs. tree →
• Rubbing a balloon makes it stick to the wall. tree →
• My new shoes rub my heels. tree →
• OK, I lost — don't rub it in! tree →
• She rubbed another match on the wall. tree →

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».