Nub vs. Rub — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Nub and Rub
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Compare with Definitions
Nub
A protuberance or knob.
Rub
Apply firm pressure to the surface of (something), using a repeated back and forth motion
She rubbed her arm, where she had a large bruise
He rubbed at the earth on his jeans
Nub
A small lump.
Rub
(with reference to two things) move or cause to move to and fro against each other with a certain amount of friction
Many insects make noises by rubbing parts of their bodies together
The ice breaks into small floes that rub against each other
Nub
The essence; the core
The nub of a story.
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Rub
An act of rubbing
She pulled out a towel and gave her head a quick rub
Nub
(obsolete) The innermost section of a chrysalis in a silk cocoon.
Rub
The central problem or difficulty in a situation
That was the rub—she had not cared enough
Nub
A small lump or knob.
Rub
(in bowling) an uneven patch of ground that impedes or diverts a bowl.
Nub
The essence or core of an issue, argument etc.
What do you think is the nub of the problem?
Rub
To apply pressure and friction to (a surface).
Nub
(slang) The clitoris.
Rub
To clean, polish, or manipulate by the application of pressure and friction.
Nub
A pointing stick
Rub
To apply to a surface firmly and with friction
Rub lotion on the hands.
Rub dye into the fabric.
Nub
(Internet slang) noob.
He can't even make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? What a nub.
Rub
To move (an object or objects) firmly along a surface, especially repeatedly
Rub an eraser over the blackboard.
Rubbed my fingers over the sore spot.
Nub
(baseball) To hit the ball weakly.
Rub
To cause to become worn, chafed, or irritated.
Nub
To push; to nudge.
Rub
To remove, erase, or expunge
Rub away a stain.
Rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
Nub
To beckon.
Rub
To exert pressure or friction on something.
Nub
To push; to nudge; also, to beckon.
Rub
To wear or chafe with friction
My shoes were beginning to rub.
Nub
A jag, or snag; a knob; a protuberance; also, the point or gist, as of a story.
Rub
To cause irritation or annoyance.
Nub
A small lump or protuberance
Rub
To move along in contact with a surface; graze or scrape.
Nub
A small piece;
A nub of coal
A stub of a pencil
Rub
To be transferred or removed by contact or proximity
Newsprint that rubbed off on my fingers.
Wished some of her luck would rub off on me.
Nub
The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;
The gist of the prosecutor's argument
The heart and soul of the Republican Party
The nub of the story
Rub
The act of rubbing.
Rub
The application of friction and pressure
A back rub.
Rub
A liniment or balm.
Rub
A seasoning made of ground spices and herbs, applied to the surface of meat, fish, or vegetables before cooking.
Rub
An unevenness on a surface.
Rub
An act or remark that annoys or hurts another.
Rub
A difficulty or obstacle
"The rub for extraterrestrial life on Europa is that the moon's surface is an icy wasteland" (William J. Broad).
Rub
An act of rubbing.
Give that lamp a good rub and see if any genies come out.
Rub
A difficulty or problem.
Rub
(archaic) A quip or sarcastic remark.
Rub
In the game of crown green bowls, any obstacle by which a bowl is diverted from its normal course.
Rub
Any substance designed to be applied by rubbing.
A heat rub intended for muscular strains
Rub
A mixture of spices applied to meat before it is barbecued.
Rub
A loan.
Rub
(transitive) To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
I rubbed the cloth over the glass.
The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
I rubbed my hands together for warmth.
Rub
(transitive) To rub something against (a second thing).
I rubbed the glass with the cloth.
Rub
(intransitive) To be rubbed against something.
My shoes are beginning to rub.
Rub
(transitive) To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
Meat rubbed with spices before barbecuing
Rub
(dated) To move or pass with difficulty.
To rub through woods, as huntsmen
Rub
To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; often with up or over.
To rub up silver
Rub
To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
Rub
To touch the jack with the bowl.
Rub
To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the action of something moving back and forth; as, to rub the flesh with the hand; to rub wood with sandpaper.
It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned, to rub the body with a coarse linen cloth.
Rub
To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground.
Rub
To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body.
Two bones rubbed hard against one another.
Rub
To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
The smoothed plank, . . .New rubbed with balm.
Rub
To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; - often with up or over; as, to rub up silver.
The whole business of our redemption is to rub over the defaced copy of the creation.
Rub
To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
'T is the duke's pleasure,Whose disposition, all the world well knows,Will not be rubbed nor stopped.
Rub
To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate; as, a wheel rubs against the gatepost.
Rub
To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore.
Rub
To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as huntsmen; to rub through the world.
Rub
The act of rubbing; friction.
Rub
That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment; especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome; a pinch.
Every rub is smoothed on our way.
To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub.
Upon this rub, the English ambassadors thought fit to demur.
One knows not, certainly, what other rubs might have been ordained for us by a wise Providence.
Rub
Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; unevenness.
Rub
Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a hard rub.
Rub
Imperfection; failing; fault.
Rub
A chance.
Flight shall leave no Greek a rub.
Rub
A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a whetstone; - called also rubstone.
Rub
An unforeseen obstacle
Rub
The act of rubbing or wiping;
He gave the hood a quick rub
Rub
Move over something with pressure;
Rub my hands
Rub oil into her skin
Rub
Cause friction;
My sweater scratches
Rub
Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching;
Don't scratch your insect bites!
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