Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun rub

2 senses of rub

Sense 1
hang-up, hitch, rub, snag -- (an unforeseen obstacle)
       => obstacle, obstruction -- (something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan")

Sense 2
rub, wipe -- (the act of rubbing or wiping; "he gave the hood a quick rub")
       => contact, physical contact -- (the act of touching physically; "her fingers came in contact with the light switch")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb rub

3 senses of rub

Sense 1
rub -- (move over something with pressure; "rub my hands"; "rub oil into her skin")
       => guide, run, draw, pass -- (pass over, across, or through; "He ran his eyes over her body"; "She ran her fingers along the carved figurine"; "He drew her hair through his fingers")
          Phrasal Verb-> rub down#1; rub off#1; rub down#2; rub out#1

Sense 2
rub, fray, fret, chafe, scratch -- (cause friction; "my sweater scratches")
       => touch, adjoin, meet, contact -- (be in direct physical contact with; make contact; "The two buildings touch"; "Their hands touched"; "The wire must not contact the metal cover"; "The surfaces contact at this point")

Sense 3
rub, scratch, itch -- (scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; "Don't scratch your insect bites!")
       => irritate -- (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach")