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Added 9 October 2026

scrub

/skɹʌb/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scrub at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes.
The act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water.

verb

Clean with hard rubbing.
She scrubbed his back
Wash thoroughly.
surgeons must scrub prior to an operation
Postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled.
Call off the engagement

adjective

(of domestic animals) not selectively bred.

Origin

Late Middle English shrobbe in the sense of "stunted tree," a variant of shrub, from Old English scrybb. Doublet of shrub.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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