scrubbing

scrub ¹  (skrb)

v. scrubbed, scrub·bing, scrubs

v.tr.

1.

a. To rub hard in order to clean.

b. To remove (dirt or stains) by hard rubbing.

2. To remove impurities from (a gas) chemically.

3. Slang To cancel or abandon; drop: We had to scrub our plans for vacation.

v.intr.

To clean or wash something by hard rubbing: Don't forget to scrub behind your ears.

n.

1. The act or an instance of scrubbing.

2. pl. scrubs The articles of clothing that make up a scrub suit.

Phrasal Verb:

scrub up

To wash the hands and arms thoroughly, as before performing or participating in surgery.

---

[Middle English scrobben, to currycomb a horse, from Middle Dutch schrobben, to clean by rubbing, scrape; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

---

scrubba·ble adj.

---

scrub ²  (skrb)

n.

1. A straggly, stunted tree or shrub.

2. A growth or tract of stunted vegetation.

3. An undersized or poorly developed domestic animal.

4. An undersized or insignificant person.

5. Sports A player not on the varsity or first team.

6. Australian Remote rural land; the bush.

---

[Middle English, variant of schrubbe; see shrub¹.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scrubbing - the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water scouring, scrub cleaning, cleansing, cleanup - the act of making something clean; "he gave his shoes a good cleaning" mopping, swabbing - cleaning with a mop; "he gave it a good mopping"