Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [ruhb uhp]
- /rʌb ʌp/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [ruhb uhp]
- /rʌb ʌp/
Definitions of rub up words
- verb with object rub up 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 up 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 up 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 up 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 up to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, or into). 1
- verb with object rub up to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off or out). 1
Information block about the term
Origin of rub up
First appearance:
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
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Rub up
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
rub up popularity
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".