frotter

Senses

1. 1.

   to rub

   to apply pressure and move something back and forth against a surface

2. 2.

   to scrub

   to rub hard in order to clean

3. 3.

   to strike (a match)

   to ignite by friction

Examples

• "Elle frotte le plancher avec une brosse."

  She scrubs the floor with a brush.

• "Il a frotté une allumette pour allumer la bougie."

  He struck a match to light the candle.

• "Le bébé frotte ses yeux car il a sommeil."

  The baby is rubbing his eyes because he is sleepy.

Usage

Common everyday verb; used literally for physical rubbing or cleaning and metaphorically in expressions like "se frotter à quelqu'un" (to tangle with someone). Colloquial usage: "frotter" can also mean "to bother" or "to annoy" in some regional dialects.