/ ˈskærɪfaɪ; ˈskeə-; NAmE ˈsker-/ verb ( scari·fies , scari·fy·ing , scari·fied , scari·fied ) [ vn ] ( technical )
1.
to break up an area of grass, etc. and remove pieces of material from it that are not wanted
2.
to make cuts in the surface of sth, especially skin
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French scarifier , via late Latin from Greek skariphasthai scratch an outline, from skariphos stylus.