scrubber

¹ American  

[skruhb-er] / ˈskrʌb ər /

noun

1. a person who scrubs.

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

3. a machine or appliance used in scrubbing.

   an automatic floor scrubber.

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scrubber ² American  

[skruhb-er] / ˈskrʌb ər /

noun

1. a mongrel, especially a mongrel steer.

2. a thin or stunted steer.

3. Australian.

   1. an inhabitant of the bush.

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

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scrubber ³ American  

[skruhb-er] / ˈskrʌb ɛr /

noun

British Slang.

1. a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

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scrubber ¹ British  

/ ˈskrʌbə /

noun

1. a person or thing that scrubs

2. an apparatus for purifying a gas

3. derogatory a promiscuous woman

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scrubber ² British  

/ ˈskrʌbə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of scrubber¹

First recorded in 1830–40; scrub ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of scrubber²

First recorded in 1855–60; scrub ² + -er ¹

Origin of scrubber³

First recorded in 1955–60; variously explained as sense development of either scrubber ¹ (in the sense “a person who scrubs; charwoman,” or scrubber ² (in the Australian sense “(female) animal that runs into the bush and becomes wild”; compare earlier scrub in same sense

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scrubber

Brown, who exercises five days a week, starts by working an anti-bacterial body wash into his skin with a silicone scrubber, then follows with a hydrating body wash with hyaluronic acid or glycerin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

If you can afford it, you might rent an air scrubber for a day of high-powered air cleaning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025

In the new study, the Chalmers researchers calculated both the external costs of scrubber water discharge, and the financial balance sheets of over 3,800 vessels that invested in the scrubber technology.

From Science Daily ● May 7, 2024

You can also gently scrape the scale off branches and stems with a plastic dish scrubber.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024

I scraped off the rust with our dish scrubber and shined up that locket as bright as I could get it.

From "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman

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