SCRUB

v. & n. --v. (scrubbed, scrubbing) 1 tr. rub hard so as to clean, esp. with a hard brush. 2 intr. use a brush in this way. 3 intr. (often foll. by up) (of a surgeon etc.) thoroughly clean the hands and arms by scrubbing, before operating. 4 tr. colloq. scrap or cancel (a plan, order, etc.). 5 tr. use water to remove impurities from (gas etc.). --n. the act or an instance of scrubbing; the process of being scrubbed. øscrubbing-brush (US scrub-brush) a hard brush for scrubbing floors. scrub round colloq. circumvent, avoid. [ME prob. f. MLG, MDu. schrobben, schrubben]