SCRUB (scrubbed, scrubbing)
Dictionary entry overview: What does scrub mean?
• SCRUB (noun)
The noun SCRUB has 2 senses:
1. dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
2. the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
Familiarity information: SCRUB used as a noun is rare.
• SCRUB (adjective)
The adjective SCRUB has 1 sense:
1. (of domestic animals) not selectively bred
Familiarity information: SCRUB used as an adjective is very rare.
• SCRUB (verb)
The verb SCRUB has 3 senses:
1. clean with hard rubbing
2. wash thoroughly
3. postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled
Familiarity information: SCRUB used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• SCRUB (noun)
Meaning:
Dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Synonyms:
chaparral; scrub; bush
Hypernyms ("scrub" is a kind of...):
botany; flora; vegetation (all the plant life in a particular region or period)
Meaning:
The act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
scrubbing; scouring; scrub
Hypernyms ("scrub" is a kind of...):
cleaning; cleansing; cleanup (the act of making something clean)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scrub"):
mopping; swabbing (cleaning with a mop)
• SCRUB (adjective)
Meaning:
(of domestic animals) not selectively bred
Similar:
unimproved (not made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially not made ready for use or marketing)
• SCRUB (verb)
Meaning:
Clean with hard rubbing
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
scrub; scour
Context example:
She scrubbed his back
Hypernyms (to "scrub" is one way to...):
rub (move over something with pressure)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scrub"):
holystone (scrub with a holystone)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The chefs scrub the vegetables
Meaning:
Wash thoroughly
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
scrub up; scrub
Context example:
surgeons must scrub prior to an operation
Hypernyms (to "scrub" is one way to...):
lave; wash (cleanse (one's body) with soap and water)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
call off; cancel; scrub; scratch
Context examples:
Call off the engagement / cancel the dinner party / we had to scrub our vacation plans / scratch that meeting--the chair is ill
"Scrub" entails doing...:
schedule (make a schedule; plan the time and place for events)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
