Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » grub

grub

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Grub is defined as to dig, search through or work very hard.

(verb)

An example of grub is digging and pulling weeds out of a garden bed.

The definition of grub is a stubby worm-shaped larva of some insects, or a slang term for food.

(noun)

An example of grub is the stage of a beetle before it cocoons and turns into its beetle form.

See grub in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb grubbed, grubbing

to dig in the ground
to work hard, esp. at something menial or tedious; drudge
to search about; rummage
Origin: < grub
Slang to eat

Origin: ME grubben, to dig, prob. < OE *grybban (akin to OHG grubilōn, to bore into): for IE base see grave

transitive verb

to clear (ground) of roots and stumps by digging them up
to dig up by or as by the roots; root out; uproot

noun

the short, fat, wormlike larva of certain insects, esp. of a beetle
a person who works hard at some menial or tedious work; drudge
Origin: < ? notion “what is grubbed for”
Slang food

Origin: ME grubbe, prob. < the v.

Related Forms:

grubber noun

See grub in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb grubbed grubbed, grub·bing, grubs

verb, transitive

To dig up by or as if by the roots: grubbed carrots with a stick.
To clear of roots and stumps by digging: grubbed a small plot.
Slang To obtain by importunity: grub a cigarette.

verb, intransitive

To dig in the earth: grub for potatoes.
a. To search laboriously by or as if by digging; rummage.
b. To toil arduously; drudge: grub for a living.

noun

The thick wormlike larva of certain beetles and other insects.
A drudge.
Slang Food.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English grubben

Origin: , from Old English *grybban; see ghrebh-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

grubˈber noun

Learn more about grub

grub synonyms

grub in a sentence

grub quotes

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

» more results...