scrub

Everyday

1. To scrub means to clean something by rubbing it hard, often with a brush, soap and water. tree →
2. Scrub is land covered with low bushes and small trees, with little grass. tree →
3. Scrubs are the loose, plain clothes that doctors and nurses wear in hospital. tree →
4. To scrub something (informal) means to cancel it. tree →
5. A scrub is a quick wash in water. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life and hygiene: scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap to wash off germs; scrub muddy knees, pots and floors. In geography and science, scrub (or scrubland, the Australian «bush» or «mallee scrub») is a habitat in dry places. Phrases: scrub your hands, scrub the floor, scrub brush, scrub up, scrubland.

Examples

• Scrub your hands with soap for twenty seconds. tree →
• Dad scrubbed the burnt pan until it shone. tree →
• I scrubbed the mud off my football boots. tree →
• The path went through dry scrub full of lizards. tree →
• Doctors scrub up before an operation. tree →
• The nurse was wearing blue scrubs. tree →
• Give the potatoes a good scrub before cooking. tree →
• Rain made them scrub the school trip. tree →
• "My Father!" says the Prince; "let an old fellow of ours have a scrub first, just to try the bath-room." tree →

Note

Double b before -ed and -ing: scrubbed, scrubbing. «Scrub» (land) is uncountable. Scrubbing too hard can hurt skin; scrub well but gently. «Scrub up» means wash thoroughly, especially a surgeon's hands and arms.