Library / English Dictionary

RUB DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes

Example:

She rubbed down her child with a sponge

Synonyms:

knead; massage; rub down

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "rub down" is one way to...):

manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)

"Rub down" entails doing...:

rub (move over something with pressure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

rubdown (the act of rubbing down, usually for relaxation or medicinal purposes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wear away

Synonyms:

abrade; abrase; corrade; rub down; rub off

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "rub down" is one way to...):

wear away; wear off (diminish, as by friction)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "rub down"):

chafe; excoriate (tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading)

rasp (scrape with a rasp)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

rubdown (the act of rubbing down, usually for relaxation or medicinal purposes)

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