scrub

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈskrəb 

often attributive

1

a

: a stunted tree or shrub

b

: vegetation consisting chiefly of scrubs

c

: a tract covered with scrub

2

: a domestic animal of mixed or unknown parentage and usually inferior conformation : mongrel

3

: a person of insignificant size or standing

4

: a player not belonging to the first string

scrub

2 of 3

verb

scrubbed; scrubbing

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to clean with hard rubbing : scour

(2)

: to remove by scrubbing

b

: to subject to friction : rub

2

: wash sense 6c(2)

3

: cancel, eliminate

scrubbed the flight because of bad weather

intransitive verb

1

: to use hard rubbing in cleaning

2

: to prepare for performing surgery by scrubbing oneself

scrubbable

ˈskrə-bə-bəl 

adjective

scrub

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: an act or instance of scrubbing

especially : cancellation

2

a

: one that scrubs

b

: a powerful and especially cosmetic cleanser

3

scrubs plural : loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff

surgical scrubs

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• diminutive
• dwarf
• midget
• mite
• peewee
• pygmy
• pigmy
• runt
• shrimp
• Tom Thumb

Verb

• abandon
• abort
• call
• call off
• cancel
• cry off
• drop
• recall
• repeal
• rescind
• revoke
• scrap

Examples of scrub in a Sentence

Verb

We scrubbed and scrubbed until the floor was clean.

They scrubbed the game because of the bad weather.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whether that be in the form of dry brushing, an enzyme mask, or a glycolic body scrub, every part of our body deserves to be resurfaced. —Samantha Mims, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024

But when the scrubs go on, a headset could be the ideal tool. —Thomas Germain / Gizmodo, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2024

Old Bay body scrub Move over, Irish Spring — how about lathering up with a scent that immediately makes people think of crabs? —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024

Hopping in the bath for a scrub can be fun for little ones—or a nightmare for caregivers. —Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Here are a few of the products our Select editors tried and loved last month: a scalp oil that left an editor’s hair soft and shiny, a gentle yet effective exfoliating scrub and a magnetic mat perfect for all the things that gather on your bedside table. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 4 Mar. 2024

Medical assistants in scrubs came and went, alerting Bernard when the next patient was ready. —Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024

Find it on Amazon Embrace Your Natural Skin With This Glow Tumeric Face Scrub Feel radiant with this Glow turmeric face scrub that gently exfoliates face skin to promote your natural glow. —Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024

The Mayor’s Office told the council back then that the building was a Class A property that needed only a $10,000 power scrub before hundreds of employees could move in. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024

Verb

After scrubbing, rinse the grates and drain the water. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

About 25 cooks and dishwashers are in the kitchen during each shift, and at 8 in the morning the space already hummed with the sound of staff members’ scrubbing down surfaces with soapy water. —Marcela Valdes. Photographs and Videos By Peden + Munk, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Apple also added accessibility enhancements, such as letting the program announce the playhead position when recording, playing back, and scrubbing audio. —PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024

Reese, who scrubbed Fletcher, 21, from her Instagram account, also seemingly elaborated on why the two split. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024

Don’t use soap, detergent or a commercial soak or scrub, however, as they have not been proven to be any more effective, according to the FDA. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024

The news would get out eventually, so the team decided to scrub the image of sensitive data and release it. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024

After Boston Children’s Hospital received bomb threats over providing gender-affirming care, more than 20 hospitals scrubbed information about these services from their websites. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 11 Mar. 2024

Gloria’s usually a one-woman show on her daytime shift, cooking and scrubbing floors and ringing up orders. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, alteration of schrobbe, schrubbe shrub — more at shrub

Verb

of Low German or Scandinavian origin; akin to Middle Low German & Middle Dutch schrubben to scrub, Swedish skrubba

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun (2)

1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scrub

• scrub brush
• scrub pine
• scrub off
• scrub nurse
• scrub oak
• scrub up
• scrub jay
• scrub typhus
• scrub out

Kids Definition

scrub

1 of 3 noun

ˈskrəb 

1

a

: a thick growth of small or stunted shrubs or trees

b

: an area of land covered with scrub

2

: a domestic animal of mixed or unknown parentage and usually inferior build

3

: a person of small size or low social rank

4

: a player not belonging to the first string

scrub adjective

scrub

2 of 3 verb

scrubbed; scrubbing

: to rub hard in cleaning or washing

scrub clothes

scrubber noun

scrub

3 of 3 noun

: an act or instance of scrubbing

Medical Definition

scrub

1 of 2 verb

ˈskrəb 

scrubbed; scrubbing

transitive verb

: to clean and disinfect (the hands and forearms) before participating in surgery

intransitive verb

: to prepare for surgery by scrubbing oneself

scrub

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of scrubbing

a surgical scrub

2

plural : loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff

surgical scrubs