To rub down

To rub down
Rub Rub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rubbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Rubbing}.] [Probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. rhwbiaw, gael. rub.] 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. [1913 Webster]

It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned, to rub the body with a coarse linen cloth. --Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]

2. To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground. [1913 Webster]

3. To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body. [1913 Webster]

Two bones rubbed hard against one another. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]

4. To spread a substance thinly over; to smear. [1913 Webster]

The smoothed plank, . . . New rubbed with balm. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often with up or over; as, to rub up silver. [1913 Webster]

The whole business of our redemption is to rub over the defaced copy of the creation. --South. [1913 Webster]

6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart. [R.] [1913 Webster]

'T is the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, Will not be rubbed nor stopped. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rub|down — «RUHB DOWN», noun. the act or process of rubbing the body; massage …   Useful english dictionary

  • rub down — verb 1. wear away • Syn: ↑abrade, ↑corrade, ↑abrase, ↑rub off • Derivationally related forms: ↑corrasion (for: ↑corrade), ↑abrasive …   Useful english dictionary

  • rub down — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms rub down : present tense I/you/we/they rub down he/she/it rubs down present participle rubbing down past tense rubbed down past participle rubbed down to dry someone s body by rubbing it with a towel I rubbed… …   English dictionary

  • rub down — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you rub down a rough surface, you make it smooth by rubbing it with something such as sandpaper. [V P n (not pron)] They were settling to their work, rubbing down the woodwork with sandpaper. [Also V n P] 2) PHRASAL VERB If you …   English dictionary

  • rub down — {v. phr.} 1. To dry the body of (an animal or person) by rubbing. * /Stablemen rub down a horse after a race./ 2. To rub and press with the fingers on the body of (a person) to loosen muscles or prevent stiffness; massage. * /Trainers rub down an …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rub down — {v. phr.} 1. To dry the body of (an animal or person) by rubbing. * /Stablemen rub down a horse after a race./ 2. To rub and press with the fingers on the body of (a person) to loosen muscles or prevent stiffness; massage. * /Trainers rub down an …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rub\ down — v. phr. 1. To dry the body of (an animal or person) by rubbing. Stablemen rub down a horse after a race. 2. To rub and press with the fingers on the body of (a person) to loosen muscles or prevent stiffness; massage. Trainers rub down an athlete… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • rub·down — /ˈrʌbˌdaʊn/ noun, pl downs [count] chiefly US : an act of rubbing someone s body to relax the muscles The trainer gave him a rubdown after the game. see also rub down at ↑rub, 1 …   Useful english dictionary

  • rub-down — /ˈrʌb daʊn/ (say rub down) noun → massage (def. 1) …  

  • rub down — Synonyms and related words: bed, bed down, break, bridle, brush, caress, curry, currycomb, drench, feed, fodder, frictionize, gentle, groom, handle, harness, hitch, knead, litter, manage, massage, milk, pet, rub, saddle, stroke, tame, tend, train …   Moby Thesaurus

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