\ ˈskab 
\
\Definition of scab
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : scabies of domestic animals
2 : a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound
3a : a contemptible person
b(1) : a worker who refuses to join a labor union
(2) : a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended
(3) : a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike
(4) : one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms
4 : any of various bacterial or fungus diseases of plants characterized by crustaceous spots also : one of the spots
scab
verbscabbed; scabbing
Definition of scab (Entry 2 of 2)
Examples of scab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Throughout the 18th century, the best way to protect against smallpox was inoculation, a process by which a doctor would introduce smallpox pustules, perhaps from the scab of a smallpox patient, into someone's skin.
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Ryan Prior, CNN, "What 3 centuries of smallpox mortality data shows about how epidemics linger," 22 Dec. 2020 Push-button start is now standard, but the old ignition slot by the steering wheel is still there, covered with a scab of plastic.
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Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, "Tested: 2020 Nissan Frontier Is a Resto Rod," 15 Sep. 2020 The rough blotchy areas on the fruit surface are a symptom of pear scab.
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oregonlive, "Ask an expert: What sort of pruning is needed to reshape a laurel hedge?," 23 Aug. 2020 As the days went by, a sort of skin or scab grew over the memory of her arrest.
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Hari Kunzru, The New Yorker, "A Transparent Woman," 29 June 2020 Now Biden's vice presidential selection committee is scratching at that old political scab by considering Susan Rice as a top contender to become his 2020 running mate.
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Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, "In considering Susan Rice for running mate role, Biden campaign unafraid to relitigate Benghazi," 16 June 2020 Historians say the deaths seemed to rip the scab from 400 years of oppression of black people.
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National Geographic, "‘It was a modern-day lynching’: Violent deaths reflect a brutal American legacy," 4 June 2020 From the outside, burl wood appears deformed, all grayish scabs of nasty bark.
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John Semley, The New Republic, "Turn On, Tune In, Cash In," 27 Apr. 2020 Wheat scab is a growing problem in North America, Europe, and China.
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Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Controversial ‘gene drive’ could disarm deadly wheat pathogen," 17 Apr. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Some people may form blisters or scab over in the few days, as the extreme cold has destroyed the skin cells in order to make the skin tag go away.
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Kristi Kellogg, Allure, "How to Remove Skin Tags, According to Dermatologists," 12 Aug. 2020 Soldiers marching to Rome from Mesopotamia in late 165 AD were ill, many covered in red and black papules that eventually would scab over and fall off.
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Fox News, "History's 5 deadliest pandemics and epidemics," 22 Apr. 2020 The rash consists of small blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two-to-four weeks.
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Julie Washington, cleveland, "Shingles shot shortage, other related questions answered: Health Matters," 12 Jan. 2020 The rash consists of small blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two-to-four weeks.
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Julie Washington, cleveland, "Shingles shot shortage, other related questions answered: Health Matters," 12 Jan. 2020 The rash consists of small blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two-to-four weeks.
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Julie Washington, cleveland, "Shingles shot shortage, other related questions answered: Health Matters," 12 Jan. 2020 The rash consists of small blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two-to-four weeks.
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Julie Washington, cleveland, "Shingles shot shortage, other related questions answered: Health Matters," 12 Jan. 2020 The rash consists of small blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two-to-four weeks.
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Julie Washington, cleveland, "Shingles shot shortage, other related questions answered: Health Matters," 12 Jan. 2020 The rash consists of small blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two-to-four weeks.
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Julie Washington, cleveland, "Shingles shot shortage, other related questions answered: Health Matters," 12 Jan. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scab.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for scab
scab
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of scab
: a hard covering of dried blood that forms over a wound to cover and protect it as it heals
informal + disapproving : a worker who does not join a strike or who takes the place of another worker who is on strike
See the full definition for scab in the English Language Learners Dictionary
scab
noun\ ˈskab \
\Kids Definition of scab
: a crust mostly of hardened blood that forms over and protects a sore or wound as it heals
scab
noun\ ˈskab \
\Medical Definition of scab
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : scabies of domestic animals
2 : a hardened covering of dried secretions (as blood, plasma, or pus) that forms over a wound
— called also crust
Other Words from scab
scabby \ -ē \ adjective scabbier; scabbiest
\ adjective scabbier; scabbiestscab
intransitive verbscabbed; scabbing
Medical Definition of scab (Entry 2 of 2)
: to become covered with a scab
the wound scabbed over
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scab
nounLegal Definition of scab
1 : a worker who refuses to join a labor union
2 : a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended
3 : a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike : strikebreaker
4 : one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms
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Time Traveler for scab
The first known use of scab was in the 13th century
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