verb
Uncommon
scrub
skruhb
Scrub (verb) means to clean something by rubbing hard, often with a brush. Example: “She scrubbed the pots until they shone.”
verb
1
To clean something by rubbing hard, often with a brush.
"She scrubbed the pots until they shone."
"He scrubbed the grease stain off the driveway."
"I need to scrub the bathroom tiles before the guests arrive."
2
To cancel a planned event or task.
"Mission control scrubbed the launch due to bad weather."
"The council scrubbed the street party because of the storm warning."
"After the budget cuts, they had to scrub the whole project."
noun
1
Low, dense vegetation or brush, often on poor soil.
"The trail cut through thick scrub before reaching the ridge."
"Goats wandered through the dry scrub on the hillside."
"A fox slipped out of the scrub and crossed the road."
2
(informal, gaming/sports) An inexperienced or unskilled player.
"He got called a scrub after losing every round."
"Don't be a scrub, just practise and you will get better."
"The veterans teased the new recruit for playing like a scrub."
3
A short-sleeved uniform worn by medical staff, especially in surgery.
"The surgeon changed into fresh scrubs before the operation."
"The nurse wore blue scrubs during her night shift."
"Each doctor on the ward keeps a spare set of scrubs in the locker."
How to use scrub
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often means to clean by hard rubbing, or to cancel something; also low brush vegetation, or (plural) medical uniforms.
Common pairings
scrub the floor
scrub the mission
wear scrubs
desert scrub
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Word forms
- Plural
- scrubs
- Third person singular
- scrubs
- Past tense
- scrubbed
- Comparative
- more scrub
- Superlative
- most scrub
Fill the gap
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I need to _____ the bathroom tiles before the guests arrive.
Etymology
A Late Middle English variant of "shrub," originally describing a stunted tree — the cleaning sense developed separately, likely from the rough scrubbing brush used for scouring.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for scrub
See all rhymes for scrub →Frequently asked questions
What does “scrub” mean?
The word “scrub” means to clean something by rubbing hard, often with a brush. In plain terms, most often means to clean by hard rubbing, or to cancel something; also low brush vegetation, or (plural) medical uniforms.
How do you pronounce “scrub”?
“Scrub” is pronounced skruhb (/skɹʌb/ in IPA).
How do you use “scrub” in a sentence?
Here is “scrub” used in a sentence: “She scrubbed the pots until they shone.”
What part of speech is “scrub”?
Depending on how it is used, “scrub” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “scrub” come from?
The word “scrub” comes from Middle English. A Late Middle English variant of "shrub," originally describing a stunted tree — the cleaning sense developed separately, likely from the rough scrubbing brush used for scouring.
Is “scrub” a common word?
“Scrub” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “scrub” have?
“Scrub” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to clean something by rubbing hard, often with a brush.
What is the difference between scrub and shrub?
As a noun, scrub refers to low, dense vegetation or brush, often growing on poor soil, while "shrub" refers to a single woody plant smaller than a tree. Scrub describes a type of landscape made up of many such low plants, whereas shrub names an individual plant.
What does "scrub" mean in gaming or sports slang?
In informal gaming and sports slang, a "scrub" is an inexperienced or unskilled player, often used somewhat dismissively. This sense is unrelated to the cleaning or vegetation meanings of the word.
What does it mean to "scrub" an event?
To scrub an event means to cancel a planned task or launch, a usage that originated in contexts like rocket launches and has spread to general planning. It differs from the cleaning sense, which means to rub something hard to remove dirt.
Why are medical uniforms called "scrubs"?
Medical staff, especially in surgery, wear short-sleeved uniforms called scrubs, a name tied to the practice of scrubbing in—thoroughly washing and disinfecting—before entering a sterile environment. The garment name reflects this hygiene-focused routine.
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