scrub
skrʌb
scrubbedscrubbing
Definition Synonyms Conjugation

Definition of scrub - Reverso English Dictionary

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Noun

1.
cleaning actionact of cleaning something by rubbing it hard
  • She gave the floor a good scrub to remove the stains..
cleaning scrubbing
2.
sportsUSsubstitute player in sportsUS
  • The scrub was called in during the last quarter.
reserve
3.
incompetent personUSperson who is not skilled or competentUS
  • He's just a scrub, unable to finish the task.
amateur bungler novice

Verb

1.
cleaningtr./intr.rub a surface hard to clean ittr./intr.
  • She scrubbed the floor until it shone.
clean wash
2.
careful searchtr./intr.USsearch an area thoroughlytr./intr.US
  • They scrubbed the area for any evidence of the missing person..
rummage scour
3.
cancellationtr.UScancel a scheduled eventtr.US
  • The meeting was scrubbed due to bad weather.
abort call off cancel

Adjective

1.
sizeUSsmall or inferior in size or qualityUS
  • The scrub trees barely reached my waist.
shabby substandard
2.
sportsUSnot in the first team of playersUS
  • He played on the scrub team during practice.
reserve substitute
3.
breedingTECH.not selectively bred or of inferior breedingTECH.
  • The farm had a few scrub animals for sale.
mongrel unrefined
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Images of scrub

  • scrub: dense vegetation of low trees and bushes
    dense vegetation of low trees and bushes
  • scrub: clothing worn during surgery
    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.

Origin of scrub

Dutch, schrobben (to rub)

Terms with scrub included in their meaning

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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

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.

View all translations of scrub

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:frottage, frotter, ...
  2. German:Schrubben, schrubben, ...
  3. Italian:sfregamento, strofinare, ...
  4. Spanish:restregado, fregar, ...
  5. Portuguese:esfregadela, esfregar, ...
  6. Chinese:擦洗, 清洗, ...
  7. Japanese:こすり洗い, こする, ...
  8. Arabic:فَرْك, فَرَكَ, ...
  9. Hebrew:קִרְצוּף, לְקַרְצֵף, ...
  10. Russian:чистка, тереть, ...
  11. Ukrainian:чистка, терти, ...
  12. Hindi:रगड़ाई, रगड़कर साफ़ करना, ...
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