scrub

¹

[ skruhb ]

verb (used with object)

, scrubbed, scrub·bing.

1. to rub hard with a brush, cloth, etc., or against a rough surface in washing.
2. to subject to friction; rub.
3. to remove (dirt, grime, etc.) from something by hard rubbing while washing.
4. Chemistry. to remove (impurities or undesirable components) from a gas by chemical means, as sulfur dioxide from smokestack gas or carbon dioxide from exhaled air in life-support packs.
5. to cancel or postpone (a space flight or part of a mission):

   Ground control scrubbed the spacewalk.

6. Slang. to do away with; cancel:

   Scrub your vacation plans—there's work to do!

7. Computers.
   1. to perform routine maintenance on (data) in memory or storage with scans that detect and correct data corruption:

      The system is automated to scrub and archive all active records in the database.

   2. to permanently erase (a hard drive, server, etc.), usually by writing over space where data had been stored and was later deleted, so that deleted data cannot be recovered:

      Scrub your computer’s hard drive before you sell or donate it.

   3. to delete (negative or damaging online content relating to someone or something) so as to erase it from public record or social media: Before applying for jobs, I scrubbed a bunch of posts from my hard-partying past.

      The marketing team scrubbed the disgraced celebrity spokesperson from their website within hours of the scandal.

      Before applying for jobs, I scrubbed a bunch of posts from my hard-partying past.

verb (used without object)

, scrubbed, scrub·bing.

1. to cleanse something by hard rubbing.
2. Digital Technology. to fast-forward or rewind in an audio or video file by dragging the progress marker forward or backward across the timeline bar:

   Scrub forward through the pregame and start playback from the kickoff.

noun

1. an act or instance of scrubbing.
2. a canceled or postponed space flight, launching, scheduled part of a space mission, etc.
3. something, as a cosmetic preparation, used for scrubbing.
4. scrubs, a uniform, durably designed for frequent washing and sanitizing, usually consisting of pants and a loose-fitting top, worn by doctors, nurses, and other medical staff, especially during surgery: nursing scrubs.

   surgical scrubs;

   nursing scrubs.

verb phrase

1. to cleanse one's hands and arms as a preparation to performing or assisting in surgery.

scrub

²

[ skruhb ]

noun

1. low trees or shrubs collectively.
2. a large area covered with low trees and shrubs, as the Australian bush.
3. a domestic animal of mixed or inferior breeding; mongrel.
4. a small or insignificant person.
5. anything undersized or inferior.
6. Sports. a player not belonging to the varsity or regular team; a player who is not first-string.

adjective

1. small, undersized, or stunted.
2. inferior or insignificant.
3. abounding in or covered with low trees and shrubs:

   They rode through scrub country.

scrub

¹

/ skrʌb /

noun

1. 1. vegetation consisting of stunted trees, bushes, and other plants growing in an arid area
   2. ( as modifier )

      scrub vegetation

2. an area of arid land covered with such vegetation
3. 1. an animal of inferior breeding or condition
   2. ( as modifier )

      a scrub bull

4. a small or insignificant person
5. anything stunted or inferior
6. sport a player not in the first team
7. the scrub informal.
   a remote place, esp one where contact with people can be avoided

adjective

1. small, stunted, or inferior
2. sport
   1. (of a player) not in the first team
   2. (of a team) composed of such players
   3. (of a contest) between scratch or incomplete teams

scrub

²

/ skrʌb /

verb

1. to rub (a surface) hard, with or as if with a brush, soap, and water, in order to clean it
2. to remove (dirt), esp by rubbing with a brush and water
3. intrfoll byup (of a surgeon) to wash the hands and arms thoroughly before operating
4. tr to purify (a vapour or gas) by removing impurities
5. informal.
   tr to delete or cancel
6. slang.
   intr horse racing (of jockeys) to urge a horse forwards by moving the arms and whip rhythmically forwards and backwards alongside its neck

noun

1. the act of or an instance of scrubbing

Other Words From

• scrubba·ble adjective
• non·scrubba·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrub¹

First recorded in 1300–50; of uncertain origin; Middle English verb scrobben, shrubben, borrowed from or related to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German schrobben “to scrub, scrape”

Origin of scrub²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English shrub(be), shrob(be), Old English scrybb; shrub ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrub¹

C16: variation of shrub ¹

Origin of scrub²

C14: from Middle Low German schrubben, or Middle Dutch schrobben

Example Sentences

Do as Tumblr has done and scrub her last words off the Internet—erase everything she wanted the world to hear.

From The Daily Beast

Havens is optimistic that if PHA beads could be used successfully in cosmetics without losing their ability to scrub.

From The Daily Beast

It depicts an exhausted Texas oil field on scrub land, an old railroad bed and a watery ditch converging in the distance.

From The Daily Beast

Mountain passes lead to high plains dotted with green scrub and otherworldly rock outcroppings.

From The Daily Beast

The newest edition adapts the same principles to the digital age and urges kids to scrub their Facebook pages.

From The Daily Beast

Our mothers their nurse-women, our sisters their scrub-women, our daughters their maid-women, and our wives their washer-women.

From Project Gutenberg

Before he could draw a bead, the rabbit vanished behind a distant scrub oak.

From Project Gutenberg

The scrub was so thick that they had to climb together and follow-my-leader along what appeared to be cattle tracks up the hill.

From Project Gutenberg

In their company we now made our way Northwards along a path through fairly thick scrub as high as a man's waist.

From Project Gutenberg

Ignoring the presence of his rival, Lamont passed aside and entered the scrub bush which fringed the odorous forest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brush
• cleanse
• mop
• rub
• scour
• wash