scrub

[ skruhb ]

/ skrʌb /

verb (used with object), scrubbed, scrub·bing.

to rub hard with a brush, cloth, etc., or against a rough surface in washing.

to subject to friction; rub.

to remove (dirt, grime, etc.) from something by hard rubbing while washing.

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.

to cancel or postpone (a space flight or part of a mission): Ground control scrubbed the spacewalk.

Slang. to do away with; cancel: Scrub your vacation plans—there's work to do!

verb (used without object), scrubbed, scrub·bing.

to cleanse something by hard rubbing.

to cleanse one's hands and arms as a preparation to performing or assisting in surgery (often followed by up).

noun

an act or instance of scrubbing.

a canceled or postponed space flight, launching, scheduled part of a space mission, etc.

something, as a cosmetic preparation, used for scrubbing.

Words nearby scrub

scrounge, scrounge around, scrounge up, scroungy, scrovegni chapel, scrub, scrub bird, scrub brush, scrub fowl, scrub jay, scrub nurse

Origin of scrub

1300–50; Middle English scrobben (noun) < Middle Dutch schrobben

OTHER WORDS FROM scrub

scrub·ba·ble, adjectivenon·scrub·ba·ble, adjective

Definition for scrubs (2 of 2)

scrub²

[ skruhb ]

/ skrʌb /

noun

low trees or shrubs collectively.

a large area covered with low trees and shrubs, as the Australian bush.

a domestic animal of mixed or inferior breeding; mongrel.

a small or insignificant person.

anything undersized or inferior.

Sports. a player not belonging to the varsity or regular team; a player who is not first-string.

adjective

small, undersized, or stunted.

inferior or insignificant.

abounding in or covered with low trees and shrubs: They rode through scrub country.

Origin of scrub

1350–1400; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare dialectal Danish skrub brushwood; see shrub¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scrubs

Blake escapes from the Scrubs, hides out near the prison, and then makes his way across Europe to Moscow.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Zach Braff and Donald Faison The Scrubs stars reunited to sing this holiday duet.
The Most WTF Covers of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside,’ Everyone’s Favorite Date-Rape Holiday Classic|Kevin Fallon|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“No Scrubs,” an anthem about self-respect on the dating market.
Beyoncé Is Our Indigo Girl: The Halcyon '90s and Feminism's Resurgence in Pop Music|Amanda Marcotte|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cobb ultimately met and married Scrubs star Donald Faison, and now finds herself walking red carpets as his Mrs.
When Your BFF Is a Hollywood VIP|Keli Goff|March 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

"Creep," "No Scrubs," and "Unpretty," obviously, were huge crowd pleasers.
TLC Reunites for a New York City Concert. Dreams Do Come True|Kevin Fallon|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For three minutes, it went from end to end of the cage and at last went from the hands of the scrubs on a foul that Emma had made.
Hester's Counterpart|Jean K. Baird
The scrubs for the most part are thick and without a break for many miles.
Spinifex and Sand|David W Carnegie
I borrowed it from Mrs. Twine, and it is my suspicion that she scrubs it every night.
The Ancient Law|Ellen Glasgow
During the three weeks before the game with Exeter, nine practice games were played between the first team and the scrubs.
Hester's Counterpart|Jean K. Baird
Football practice went on every afternoon, and Dick and the other scrubs were faithful at it.
Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days|Howard R. Garis

British Dictionary definitions for scrubs (1 of 3)

scrubs

/ (skrʌbs) /

pl n

the hygienic clothing worn by surgeons and other operating theatre staff during an operation

British Dictionary definitions for scrubs (2 of 3)

scrub¹

/ (skrʌb) /

verb scrubs, scrubbing or scrubbed

to rub (a surface) hard, with or as if with a brush, soap, and water, in order to clean it

to remove (dirt), esp by rubbing with a brush and water

(intr foll by up) (of a surgeon) to wash the hands and arms thoroughly before operating

(tr) to purify (a vapour or gas) by removing impurities

(tr) informal to delete or cancel

(intr) horse racing slang (of jockeys) to urge a horse forwards by moving the arms and whip rhythmically forwards and backwards alongside its neck

noun

the act of or an instance of scrubbing

Word Origin for scrub

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

British Dictionary definitions for scrubs (3 of 3)

scrub²

/ (skrʌb) /

noun

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

an area of arid land covered with such vegetation

an animal of inferior breeding or condition
(as modifier)a scrub bull

a small or insignificant person

anything stunted or inferior

sport, US and Canadian a player not in the first team

the scrub Australian informal a remote place, esp one where contact with people can be avoided

adjective

small, stunted, or inferior

sport, US and Canadian

(of a player) not in the first team
(of a team) composed of such players
(of a contest) between scratch or incomplete teams

Word Origin for scrub

C16: variation of shrub 1

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

scrub

verb (used with object), scrubbed, scrub·bing.

verb (used without object), scrubbed, scrub·bing.

noun

Content related to scrub

Words related to scrub

Words nearby scrub

Origin of scrub

OTHER WORDS FROM scrub

Definition for scrubs (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

Origin of scrub

Examples from the Web for scrubs

British Dictionary definitions for scrubs (1 of 3)

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for scrubs (2 of 3)

verb scrubs, scrubbing or scrubbed

noun

Word Origin for scrub

British Dictionary definitions for scrubs (3 of 3)

noun

adjective

Word Origin for scrub