scab

noun

\ 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

verb

scabbed; scabbing

Definition of scab (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to become covered with a scab

2 : to act as a scab

Other Words from scab Example Sentences Learn More about scab

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Examples of scab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The 20 or so specimens featured in the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s upcoming Fruits in Decay exhibition suffer from an array of ailments: among others, peach leaf curl, pear scab, gray mold, brown rot, blue mold and fire blight. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Glass Models of Decaying Fruit Set to Go on View After Two Decades in Storage," 29 Aug. 2019 Reading the joke, Martinez said, felt like ripping a still-tender scab from her skin. — Los Angeles Times, "Puerto Rico scandal stirs anger and memories of the difficult days after Hurricane Maria," 28 July 2019 The summer season has ripped off the thin scab that covered an American wound, revealing a festering disagreement about the nature and origins of the United States. — Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, "Hanson: Silicon Valley billionaires, others think U.S. is forever flawed," 21 July 2019 It was quickly pointed out to CAP’s top brass that this amounted to firing the entire unionized staff and running the site with scabs, and so the plan was canceled. — Alex Pareene, The New Republic, "ThinkProgress Was Always Doomed," 11 Sep. 2019 All around her, houses were still boarded up or covered with sagging scabs of blue emergency tarp. — Jack Healy, New York Times, "They Survived Dorian but Wonder How Many More Hurricanes They Can Withstand," 6 Sep. 2019 Nevertheless, Trump kept picking at the scab, attacking the news media for contradicting his statements and enlisting a government agency to back him up by contradicting the facts. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Trump’s trashing of NOAA’s scientific reputation is part of his war on science," 9 Sep. 2019 Blues at Bruins, Oct. 26 Just grab that Game 7 scab and rip. — Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, "Reasons to get excited about (almost) every game on the Bruins schedule," 14 Aug. 2019 Herpes Simplex Virus-2, or genital herpes, can cause blistering sores and ulcers that eventually become scabs. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Is Blue Waffle Disease Real? Here’s What a Gynecologist Says," 23 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Cellulitis can cause a painful, red, tender, swollen rash that may blister and scab over, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "5 Belly Button Infections You Can Get (and What to Do If You Have One)," 23 Feb. 2019 The blisters typically scab over in seven to 10 days, and can take up to four weeks to clear up. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Yes, Shingles Is Contagious—Kind of," 17 July 2017

These 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.