grub
7 synonyms for grub, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The soft, worm-like larva of certain insects, especially beetles.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The soft, worm-like larva of certain insects, especially beetles.
“The gardener found several grubs while digging up the flowerbed.”
How to use grub
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grab some grub
a fat grub
The "food" sense is informal/slang.
Etymology
From an Old English root meaning "to dig"; the slang sense of "food" appeared in the 17th century, possibly linked to the idea of birds digging up grubs to eat.
Full origin of grub →Frequently asked questions
What does “grub” mean?
The word “grub” means the soft, worm-like larva of certain insects, especially beetles. In plain terms, either an insect larva, or informal slang for food.
How do you pronounce “grub”?
“Grub” is pronounced gruhb (/ɡɹʌb/ in IPA).
How do you use “grub” in a sentence?
Here is “grub” used in a sentence: “The gardener found several grubs while digging up the flowerbed.”
What part of speech is “grub”?
Depending on how it is used, “grub” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “grub” come from?
The word “grub” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Old English. From an Old English root meaning "to dig"; the slang sense of "food" appeared in the 17th century, possibly linked to the idea of birds digging up grubs to eat.
Is “grub” a common word?
“Grub” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “grub” have?
“Grub” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soft, worm-like larva of certain insects, especially beetles.
