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scrub

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The definition of a scrub is any person, animal or thing that is smaller in size, or the act of rubbing something really hard to clean it.

(noun)

An example of a scrub is a stunted, scraggly plant.
An example of a scrub is an intense cleaning of a dirty bathtub.

Scrub means small, poor or inferior.

(adjective)

An example of scrub used as an adjective is in the phrase "a scrub vegetable," which means a dirty, rotting vegetable.

Scrub is defined as to clean by rubbing hard.

(verb)

An example of to scrub is to rub a bathroom with a sponge and cleansing liquid really hard to get it clean.

See scrub in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. a scraggly, stunted tree or shrub
2. short, stunted trees, bushes, or shrubs growing thickly together
3. land covered with such growth
1. any animal or thing smaller than the usual, or inferior in quality, breed, etc.
2. any small or insignificant person
☆ Sports
1. a player not on the varsity squad or regular team
2. a secondary or practice team made up of such players

Origin: ME, var. of shrubbe, shrub, infl. ? by ON skroppa, a lean creature

adjective

mean; poor; inferior
undersized, undernourished, or stunted
☆ Sports of or for the scrubs

transitive verb scrubbed, scrubbing

to clean or wash by rubbing or brushing hard
to remove (dirt, etc.) by brushing or rubbing
to rub hard
to cleanse (a gas) of impurities
Informal
1. to cancel or call off (esp. a rocket launch before or during the countdown)
2. to get rid of; eliminate

Origin: ME scrobben, prob. < Scand, as in Dan skrubbe, Norw dial. skrubba, to rub hard, akin to MLowG schrubben < IE base *(s)ker-, to cut > scrape

intransitive verb

to clean something by rubbing, as with a brush

noun

the act of scrubbing
a person who scrubs

See scrub in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb scrubbed scrubbed, scrub·bing, scrubs

verb, transitive

a. To rub hard in order to clean.
b. To remove (dirt or stains) by hard rubbing.
To remove impurities from (a gas) chemically.
Slang To cancel or abandon; drop: We had to scrub our plans for vacation.

verb, intransitive

To clean or wash something by hard rubbing: Don't forget to scrub behind your ears.

noun