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."
2.To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground.
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."
4.To spread a substance thinly over; to smear. "The smoothed plank,... New rubbed with balm."
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."
6.To hinder; to cross; to thwart. (R.) "'T is the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, Will not be rubbed nor stopped."
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 up. (a)To burnish; to polish; to clean.
(b)To excite; to awaken; to rouse to action; as, to rub up the memory.
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