1. Effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure
   "Rubbing the coin revealed the engraved details";
   - friction, detrition
    
2. The resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
   "The rubbing between the tires and the road surface provides traction for the vehicle";
   - friction
    
3. Representation consisting of a copy (as of an engraving) made by laying paper over something and rubbing it with charcoal
   "The archaeologist made a rubbing of the ancient inscription"

1. Move over something with pressure
   "rub my hands"; "rub oil into her skin"
    
2. Cause friction
   "my sweater rubs";
   - fray, fret, chafe, scratch
    
3. Scrape with the fingers as if to relieve itching
   "Don't rub your insect bites!";
   - scratch

Derived forms: rubbings

See also: knead, rub down, score out

Type of: adjoin, contact, draw, effort, elbow grease [informal], exertion, guide, irritate, meet, pass, representation, resistance, run, sweat [informal], touch, travail [literary]

Encyclopedia: Rubbing