verb

scrub

skruhb

verb

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."

To cancel a planned event or task.

"Mission control scrubbed the launch due to bad weather."

noun

Low, dense vegetation or brush, often on poor soil.

"The trail cut through thick scrub before reaching the ridge."

(informal, gaming/sports) An inexperienced or unskilled player.

"He got called a scrub after losing every round."

A short-sleeved uniform worn by medical staff, especially in surgery.

"The surgeon changed into fresh scrubs before the operation."

How to Use Scrub

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

more scrub comparative, scrubbed past tense, scrubs plural, scrubs plural, scrubs singular, most scrub superlative

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The trail cut through thick _____ before reaching the ridge.

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.

Rhymes for scrub

rub grub shrub cherub

See all rhymes for scrub →