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

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

The polluted scrubber water is then often pumped directly into the sea.

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