rub down

R r

Definitions of rub down words

verb with object rub down to subject the surface of (a thing or person) to pressure and friction, as in cleaning, smoothing, polishing, coating, massaging, or soothing: to rub a table top with wax polish; to rub the entire back area. 1
verb with object rub down to move (something) back and forth or with a rotary motion, as against or along another surface: to rub the cloth over the glass pane. 1
verb with object rub down to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person: to rub lotion on her chapped hands. 1
verb with object rub down to move (two things) with pressure and friction over or back and forth over each other (often followed by together): He rubbed his hands together. 1
verb with object rub down to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, or into). 1
verb with object rub down to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off or out). 1

before 1300

One of the 15% oldest English words

1300-50; 1860-65 for def 18b; Middle English rubben (v.); cognate with Frisian rubben, Danish rubbe, Swedish rubba

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

groom — a bridegroom.
lick into shape — to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often followed by up, off, from, etc.): to lick a postage stamp; to lick an ice-cream cone.
massage — the act or art of treating the body by rubbing, kneading, patting, or the like, to stimulate circulation, increase suppleness, relieve tension, etc.
dry — free from moisture or excess moisture; not moist; not wet: a dry towel; dry air.
file — a powder made from the ground leaves of the sassafras tree, used as a thickener and to impart a pungent taste to soups, gumbos, and other dishes.