scrub
/skrʌb/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To clean a surface by rubbing it hard, often with water or soap. It can also mean to remove dirt, stains, or marks by rubbing.
- Scrub the floor with warm soapy water.
- I scrubbed the stain off my shirt.
- Please scrub the pan before dinner.
noun
A person who is not important or not successful, especially in sport or a team. This use is informal and can sound rude.
- He felt like a scrub on the team.
- Don't call him a scrub.
- Only a scrub would quit now.
Adinary Nuance
Scrub is stronger and more physical than wipe or clean. Use scrub when dirt is stuck and you need effort, soap, or a brush. It can sound rougher than wash, which is more general. As a noun, scrub is informal and often insulting, so use it carefully.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chà rửa
- Spanish
- restregar
- Chinese
- 擦洗
- Japanese
- こすり洗いする
- Korean
- 문지르다
Etymology
Scrub came into English in the late Middle Ages. It is related to old Germanic words meaning to rub or clean hard.
Common phrases
scrub cleanscrub offscrub awayscrub the floor
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is scrub the same as clean?
- Not exactly. **Scrub** means clean with hard rubbing, often when dirt is stuck.
- Is scrub formal or informal?
- The verb is normal in everyday English. The noun meaning “useless person” is informal and rude.
- What is the difference between scrub and wipe?
- **Wipe** is lighter and uses a cloth. **Scrub** needs more force and usually removes tougher dirt.