---
title: rub — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «rub» in the school dictionary: To rub is to move your hand or something else backwards and forwards over a surface, pressing on it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# rub

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rub, you, cat, Rubbing, balloon, new shoes · **What happens:** rub, be, press, rub out, keep, not rub · **To what, where:** surface, something, rub, sun cream, UK, act

<!-- .vabout -->
«rub» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [rub in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rub.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To rub is to move your hand or something else backwards and forwards over a surface, pressing on it.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:m1:1
# text = To rub is to move your hand or something else backwards and forwards over a surface, pressing on it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	rub	rub	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	conj	_	_
10	else	else	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	forwards	forwards	ADV	RB	_	11	conj	_	_
14	over	over	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	pressing	press	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a surface |  | backwards, move *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **press** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | on surface | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent on it=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To rub something in or on is to spread it by rubbing: rub in sun cream.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:m2:1
# text = To rub something in or on is to spread it by rubbing: rub in sun cream.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	rub	rub	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	spread	spread	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	rubbing	rub	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
14	rub	rub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | spread *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **rub** | gerund |  | rub |  | sun cream |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent rub=Theme in cream=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To rub out (UK) is to remove pencil marks with a rubber.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:m3:1
# text = To rub out (UK) is to remove pencil marks with a rubber.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	rub	rub	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	remove	remove	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub out** | to-infinitive |  | UK |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with a rubber; remove *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rub is the act of rubbing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:m4:1
# text = A rub is the act of rubbing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rub	rub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rubbing	rubbing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a rub | the act |  |  |  | of rubbing | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rub your hands together to keep warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x1:1
# text = Rub your hands together to keep warm.
1	Rub	rub	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	together	together	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  | together *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't rub your eyes — wash them with water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x2:1
# text = Don't rub your eyes — wash them with water.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	rub	rub	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **rub** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your eyes |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent eye=Theme |
| 2 | **wash** | infinitive | you *not said here* | eyes *= eye* |  |  |  | with water | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent they=Patient with water=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rub sun cream into your skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x3:1
# text = Rub sun cream into your skin.
1	Rub	rub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rub out the wrong answer and try again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x4:1
# text = Rub out the wrong answer and try again.
1	Rub	rub	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub out** | imperative | you *not said here* | the wrong answer |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 2 | **try** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat rubbed against my legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x5:1
# text = The cat rubbed against my legs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rubbed	rub	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | past | the cat |  |  | my legs |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent against leg=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rubbing a balloon makes it stick to the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x6:1
# text = Rubbing a balloon makes it stick to the wall.
1	Rubbing	rub	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	stick	stick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | gerund |  | a balloon |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent balloon=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | present | Rubbing | balloon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **stick** | infinitive | balloon *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the wall | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent to wall=Co-Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My new shoes rub my heels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x7:1
# text = My new shoes rub my heels.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	rub	rub	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	heels	heel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | infinitive | My new shoes | my heels |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent heel=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
OK, I lost — don't rub it in!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x8:1
# text = OK, I lost — don't rub it in!
1	OK	ok	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	rub	rub	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **rub in** | infinitive · do-support | I *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She rubbed another match on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rub:x9:1
# text = She rubbed another match on the wall.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rubbed	rub	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | past | She | another match |  | the wall |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent match=Theme on wall=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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