rub
UK[rʌb]US[rʌb]
v
to move your hand, or something such as a cloth, backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing firmly
v
to make something press and move over something else
n
an act of rubbing a surface
Etymology
The word 'rub' is of uncertain but likely Germanic origin, first appearing in English in the late Middle English period. It is possibly related to Low German rubben or a similar Scandinavian source, though its ultimate roots are obscure. The core sense of applying friction or pressure with a back-and-forth motion has remained remarkably consistent from its earliest recorded uses. Unlike many Latinate words, its journey into English is not one of classical borrowing and morphological combination, but of the adoption and persistence of a simple, expressive monosyllabic verb.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The core form 'rub' functions as a free morpheme, serving as both a verb and a noun in Modern English.
Examples
She rubbed her eyes tiredly.
Rub the oil into the wood to protect it.
The cat gave my leg a friendly rub.