Scrub
/skrʌb/
Definitions
5 meaningsTo rub something hard to clean it.
/skrʌb/
To rub hard with a brush or something rough.
He scrubbed the dirt off his shoes.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite toy is covered in mud! You use soap and a brush to rub and clean it, right? That's scrubbing! You can scrub your hands, your clothes, or anything that needs a good cleaning.
👶 For kids: To rub something hard to make it clean.
More Examples
The chef scrubbed the vegetables before cooking them.
She scrubbed the sink until it sparkled.
How It's Used
"She scrubbed the floor until it was spotless."
"Surgeons scrub their hands before an operation."
To cancel or postpone something planned.
/skrʌb/
To cancel or abandon (a project or plan).
The mission was scrubbed due to bad weather.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, you might plan a fun day out, but then it starts raining. You have to *scrub* your plan and do something else. It means to cancel or stop something that was supposed to happen.
👶 For kids: To stop doing something you planned to do.
More Examples
They had to scrub the movie premiere because the star was ill.
The meeting was scrubbed until next week.
How It's Used
"The project was scrubbed due to lack of funding."
"The launch was scrubbed because of technical issues."
The act or process of cleaning by rubbing hard.
/skrʌb/
The act of scrubbing.
The kitchen floor needed a good scrub.
💡 Simply: When you clean something by rubbing it hard, like when you scrub a table, that's called a 'scrub'! It's all about the hard work of cleaning.
👶 For kids: The action of cleaning something by rubbing.
More Examples
She gave her hands a thorough scrub.
The surgeon performed a rigorous scrub before the operation.
How It's Used
"The bathroom needed a good scrub."
"Doctors perform a surgical scrub before operating."
An area of land covered with low, dense vegetation.
/skrʌb/
An area of low, dry, and often scrubby vegetation.
The escaped prisoner hid in the scrub.
💡 Simply: Imagine a place where the plants are small, dry, and not very tall. This kind of environment is called a 'scrub'.
👶 For kids: A place with small, dry plants.
More Examples
The wildlife found refuge in the scrub.
The scientists studied the ecosystem in the scrub.
How It's Used
"The hikers got lost in the scrub."
"The area was covered in dense scrub vegetation."
Special clothing, usually loose fitting cotton clothing, worn by doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals.
/skrʌb/
A type of medical garment worn by doctors and nurses
The doctor changed into scrubs before the operation.
💡 Simply: Imagine a doctor's or nurse's uniform – often a simple shirt and pants, easy to wash. Those clothes are called 'scrubs'.
👶 For kids: The clothes doctors and nurses wear.
More Examples
The hospital provides fresh scrubs for its staff.
She spilled coffee on her scrubs.
How It's Used
"The nurses wore blue scrubs."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
scrub up
To wash one's hands thoroughly, especially before surgery.
"The surgeon scrubbed up before the operation."
From Middle English *scrubben*, likely of Germanic origin, related to Dutch schrobben and German schrubben, all meaning to rub or scour.
The word scrub has been used since the 14th century, primarily to describe the act of rubbing or cleaning something vigorously.
Memory tip
Think of scrubbing a dirty dish until it shines.
Word Origin
"to rub or scour"