Rubefacient, rōōb-e-fā′shent, adj. making ruby or red.—n. (med.) an external application which stimulates and consequently reddens the skin.—n. Rubefac′tion, the effect or action of a rubefacient. [L. rubēre, to be red, faciens, -entis, pr.p. of facĕre, to make.]
Rubella, rōō-bel′a, n. a contagious disease, with rose-coloured eruption.—Also Rubē′ola, and German measles.
Rubescent, rōō-bes′ent, adj. tending to a red colour.—n. Rubes′cence, a growing or becoming red: tendency to redness. [L. rubescĕre, to grow red—ruber, red.]
Rubia, rōō′bi-a, n. a genus of gamopetalous plants, including the madder.—n. Ru′bian, a colour-producing matter of madder.—adj. Rubian′ic.—n. Ru′biate. [L.,—rubeus, reddish, rubēre, to be red.]
Rubican, rōō′bi-kan, adj. of a bay, sorrel, or black colour, with some light-gray or white on the flanks: of a red predominant over gray colour. [Fr.,—L. rubricāre, to colour red.]
Rubicel, Rubicelle, rōō′bi-sel, n. an orange or flame-coloured variety of spinel.
Rubicon, rōōb′i-kon, n. a stream of Central Italy, forming the boundary in the republican period of ancient Roman history between the province of Gallia Cisalpina and Italia proper.—Pass the Rubicon, to take a decisive, irrevocable step, as Julius Cæsar's crossing this stream, the limit of his province—a virtual declaration of war against the republic.
Rubicund, rōō′bi-kund, adj. inclining to redness: ruddy.—n. Rubicun′dity. [Fr.,—L. rubicundus, very red—rubēre, to be red.]
Rubidium, rōō-bid′i-um, n. a soft silvery-white metallic element. [L. rubidus, red.]
Rubify, rōō′bi-fī, v.t. to make red.—adj. Rubif′ic.—n. Rubificā′tion.—adj. Ru′biform. [Fr.,—L. rubefacĕre—rubēre, to be red, facĕre, to make.]