Definition of scrub - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
cleaning actionact of cleaning something by rubbing it hard
- She gave the floor a good scrub to remove the stains..
2.
- The scrub was called in during the last quarter.
3.
- He's just a scrub, unable to finish the task.
4.
vegetationdense vegetation of low trees and bushes
- The area was covered in thick scrub.
5.
medical clothingTECH. clothing worn during surgeryTECH.
- The surgeon put on his scrubs before the operation.
Verb
1.
cleaningtr./intr. rub a surface hard to clean ittr./intr.
- She scrubbed the floor until it shone.
2.
careful searchtr./intr. US search an area thoroughlytr./intr. US
- They scrubbed the area for any evidence of the missing person..
3.
- The meeting was scrubbed due to bad weather.
4.
technologytr./intr. TECH. maneuver play position in media editingtr./intr. TECH.
- He scrubbed through the video to find the scene.
5.
surgical preparationintr. TECH. wash hands and arms thoroughly before surgeryintr. TECH.
- The surgeon scrubbed before entering the operating room.
6.
gas purificationtr. TECH. purify gas by removing impuritiestr. TECH.
- The system scrubbed the exhaust gases efficiently.
Adjective
1.
- The scrub trees barely reached my waist.
2.
- He played on the scrub team during practice.
3.
breedingTECH. not selectively bred or of inferior breedingTECH.
- The farm had a few scrub animals for sale.
Images of scrub

dense vegetation of low trees and bushes 
clothing worn during surgery
Expressions with scrub
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
clean thoroughly by scrubbing
She scrubbed out the pot until it shone.
clean or wash by scrubbing
She had to scrub up the kitchen floor.
cancel or abandon a plan
Due to budget cuts, they had to scrub the plan.
look good after making an effort to clean and groom oneself
He really scrubs up well for formal events.
remove a memory or information from one's mind
He tried to scrub the embarrassing moment from memory.
skincare product used to exfoliate the skin
She uses a body scrub to keep her skin smooth.
act of cleaning the face with an exfoliating product
A facial scrub can help remove dead skin cells.
brush with stiff bristles for cleaning
She used a scrub brush to clean the dirty floor.
skin-care product with grains or acids that remove old surface skin
She uses an exfoliating scrub twice a week to smooth her skin.
skincare product with rough particles used to clean and smooth facial skin
She uses a gentle face scrub twice a week to prevent dry patches.
coarse skincare mix with sugar that rubs away dead skin gently
She made a homemade sugar scrub with coconut oil and vanilla.
product for cleaning and exfoliating hands
She used a hand scrub to remove the paint.
cancel or abort a planned mission
Due to bad weather, they had to scrub the mission.
prepare to join a specific task
She decided to scrub in and help with the project.
avoid or ignore something intentionally
He decided to scrub round the meeting.
nurse who assists surgeons during operations
The scrub nurse handed the scalpel to the surgeon..
process of identifying and fixing bugs
The team held a bug scrub to address the issues in the new release.
small bird found in Australian scrublands
The scrub bird is rarely seen outside its native habitat..
small shrubby oak found in dry soils
The scrub oak thrives in the arid landscape.
disease caused by bacteria transmitted by mites
Many cases of scrub typhus were reported in the rural area..
board with a ribbed surface for washing clothes
She used a scrub board to clean the clothes.
Origin of scrub
Dutch, schrobben (to rub)
Terms with scrub included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
wild area
uncultivated forest or scrub area
land
controlled fire to clear scrub
cleaning
polish or scrub a surface by rubbing
cosmetic
remove dead skin cells using a scrub or cream
animals
scrub a horse with a rubber grooming brush
plant
dense Mediterranean coastal scrub with evergreen plants
deck maintenance
scrub a wooden deck using a flat abrasive block
cleaning
to scrub or clean vigorously
skincare
act of exfoliating the skin using a scrub
landscape
covered with scrub or low bushes
ecology
state of being covered with scrub vegetation
Examples of scrub in a sentence
The car needed a thorough scrub. The scrub waited patiently for his chance to play. During practice, the scrub showed impressive skills. Don't be a scrub, learn the skills! The team lost because of that scrub. Wildlife thrives in the dense scrub of the region.
The explorers struggled through the thick scrub. Nurses changed into scrubs before entering the sterile area. He bought new scrubs for his hospital job. He scrubbed the bathtub to remove the stains. The nurse scrubbed the instruments before the surgery. The police scrubbed the crime scene for clues. Volunteers scrubbed the forest for the lost hiker. The concert was scrubbed at the last minute. They scrubbed the launch due to technical issues. She scrubbed through the podcast to find the quote. They scrubbed the timeline to locate the error. Nurses scrub thoroughly before assisting in surgery. Medical students learn to scrub properly in their first year. Technicians scrubbed the biogas to remove contaminants. The plant scrubbed the emissions before release. The scrub bushes were hardly noticeable in the garden. Scrub plants struggled to survive in the harsh climate. She was disappointed to be on the scrub squad again. The coach assigned him to the scrub lineup for the match. The scrub cattle were less expensive. Scrub horses are not used for racing.
View all translations of scrub
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:frottage, frotter, ...
- German:Schrubben, schrubben, ...
- Italian:sfregamento, strofinare, ...
- Spanish:restregado, fregar, ...
- Portuguese:esfregadela, esfregar, ...
- Chinese:擦洗, 清洗, ...
- Japanese:こすり洗い, こする, ...
- Arabic:فَرْك, فَرَكَ, ...
- Hebrew:קִרְצוּף, לְקַרְצֵף, ...
- Russian:чистка, тереть, ...
- Ukrainian:чистка, терти, ...
- Hindi:रगड़ाई, रगड़कर साफ़ करना, ...
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