scrub

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scrub1

▶verb (scrubs, scrubbing, scrubbed)

• 1 rub hard so as to clean.

  ■ (scrub up) thoroughly clean one's hands and arms before performing surgery.

  ■ (scrub up well) Brit. informal (of a person) look good after making a deliberate effort.

• 2 informal cancel or abandon.

• 3 use water to remove impurities from (gas or vapour).

▶noun

• 1 an act of scrubbing.

• 2 a semi-abrasive cosmetic substance applied to the face or body in order to cleanse the skin.

• 3 (scrubs) special hygienic clothing worn by surgeons during operations.

– origin C16: prob. from Mid. Low Ger., MDu. schrobben, schrubben.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scrub2

▶noun

• 1 vegetation consisting mainly of brushwood or stunted forest growth.

  ■ (also scrubs) land covered with such vegetation.

• 2 [as modifier] denoting a shrubby or small form of a plant.

  ■ N. Amer. denoting an animal of inferior breed or physique.

• 3 informal an insignificant or contemptible person.

• 4 N. Amer. a sports team or player not among the best or most skilful.

  ■ an informal match or game played by children or amateurs.

– derivatives
scrubby adjective .

– origin ME (in the sense ‘stunted tree’): var. of shrub1.