scrubber

1
[ skruhb-er ]
See synonyms for scrubber on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who scrubs.

  2. a device or process for removing pollutants from smoke or gas produced by burning high-sulfur fuels.

  1. a machine or appliance used in scrubbing: an automatic floor scrubber.

Origin of scrubber

1
First recorded in 1830–40; scrub1 + -er1

Words Nearby scrubber

Other definitions for scrubber (2 of 3)

scrubber2
[ skruhb-er ]

noun
  1. a mongrel, especially a mongrel steer.

  2. a thin or stunted steer.

  1. Australian.

    • an inhabitant of the bush.

    • any domestic animal that has run off into the bush and become wild, especially a steer.

Origin of scrubber

2
First recorded in 1855–60; scrub2 + -er1

Other definitions for scrubber (3 of 3)

scrubber3
[ skruhb-er ]

nounBritish Slang.
  1. a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

Origin of scrubber

3
First recorded in 1955–60; variously explained as sense development of either scrubber1 (in the sense “a person who scrubs; charwoman,” or scrubber2 (in the Australian sense “(female) animal that runs into the bush and becomes wild”; compare earlier scrub in same sense

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scrubber in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scrubber (1 of 2)

scrubber1

/ (ˈskrʌbə) /


noun
  1. a person or thing that scrubs

  2. an apparatus for purifying a gas

  1. British and Australian derogatory, slang a promiscuous woman

British Dictionary definitions for scrubber (2 of 2)

scrubber2

/ (ˈskrʌbə) /


noun
  1. Australian a domestic animal, esp a bullock, that has run wild in the bush

Origin of scrubber

2
C19: from scrub ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012