Scrub

/skrʌb/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a vigorous cleansing or scrubbing action

He gave the floor a good scrub before the party.

low, stunted growth, especially of shrubs or small trees, in a particular area

The scrub made it difficult for the hikers to navigate through the dense vegetation.

verb

to clean (something) by rubbing it hard with a brush, cloth, or other abrasive material

She had to scrub the pots and pans to get them shiny again.

to remove or delete (data or information)

The IT team had to scrub the database to eliminate any sensitive information.

to cancel or abandon a mission or event due to unfavorable conditions

The launch was scrubbed due to bad weather.

Middle English 'scrubbe', probably from Old Norse 'skrubba' meaning 'to scrub.'

scrub up

To clean oneself or make oneself presentable.

scrub down

To clean thoroughly with a scrubbing action.

scrub the floor

To clean the floor using a brush and water or cleaner.

clean

To make something free from dirt.

erase

To remove written or printed material.

bush

A woody plant that is smaller than a tree.

A bad player in a game.

That guy is a total scrub; he can’t keep up with the rest of us.

Someone who lacks skill or talent.

Don't listen to him; he's just a scrub talking big.