scab
noun
\ ˈskab
\
\
Definition of scab
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: scabies of domestic animals
2
: a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound
3a
: a contemptible person
b(1)
: a worker who refuses to join a labor union
(2)
: a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended
(3)
: a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike
(4)
: one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms
4
: any of various bacterial or fungus diseases of plants characterized by crustaceous spots
also
: one of the spots
scab
verb
scabbed;
scabbing
Definition of scab (Entry 2 of 2)
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Examples of scab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Blues at Bruins, Oct. 26 Just grab that Game 7 scab and rip. — Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, "Reasons to get excited about (almost) every game on the Bruins schedule," 14 Aug. 2019 Herpes Simplex Virus-2, or genital herpes, can cause blistering sores and ulcers that eventually become scabs. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Is Blue Waffle Disease Real? Here’s What a Gynecologist Says," 23 July 2019 According to a probable cause affidavit, the cat had serious burns, was missing fur, was covered in scabs, was completely missing one toe and had the bone from another toe exposed. — oregonlive.com, "Portland woman convicted of animal neglect after leaving cat’s severe burns untreated," 23 July 2019 And while Pantaleo's career, and possibly freedom, hang in the balance, a mother's grief remains, with each emotional scab reopened at every departmental hearing, anniversary and rally. — Mark Morales, CNN, "Five years after Eric Garner's death, questions remain over officer's actions in the confrontation," 16 July 2019 Last month, to celebrate the anniversary, the White Sox gave out commemorative Disco Demolition T-shirts to 10,000 fans for a home game and even that echo promotion scraped a scab from an old wound. — Joe Lapointe, Detroit Free Press, "40 years ago, Disco Demolition Night stirred culture war still being fought," 12 July 2019 The disastrous strike of 1987—during which the league fielded scab players, and the networks happily broadcast scab football, a formidable alliance of interests set against those of the players—would not have happened. — Conor Orr, SI.com, "Fate of the Union: What the NFLPA Can Learn From the Fight of '77," 18 June 2019 Her body was fully covered in scars, scabs, blisters and bruises from whip marks. — Linda Trischitta, sun-sentinel.com, "Girl, 8, abused by three adults, Fort Lauderdale police say," 4 June 2019 These complications, which have been reported for facial injections, can include vision abnormalities, blindness, stroke, temporary scabs, or permanent scarring of the skin. — Vogue, "Celebrity Manicurist Deborah Lippmann on Beauty, Aging, and the Product That Changed her Relationship With her Hands," 1 Apr. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Cellulitis can cause a painful, red, tender, swollen rash that may blister and scab over, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "5 Belly Button Infections You Can Get (and What to Do If You Have One)," 23 Feb. 2019 The blisters typically scab over in seven to 10 days, and can take up to four weeks to clear up. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Yes, Shingles Is Contagious—Kind of," 17 July 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scab.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for scab
scab
noun
English Language Learners Definition of scab
: a hard covering of dried blood that forms over a wound to cover and protect it as it heals
informal + disapproving
: a worker who does not join a strike or who takes the place of another worker who is on strike
See the full definition for scab in the English Language Learners Dictionary
scab
noun
\ ˈskab
\
\
Kids Definition of scab
: a crust mostly of hardened blood that forms over and protects a sore or wound as it heals
scab
noun
\ ˈskab
\
\
Medical Definition of scab
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: scabies of domestic animals
2
: a hardened covering of dried secretions (as blood, plasma, or pus) that forms over a wound
— called also crust
Other Words from scab
scabby
\ -Ä“
\
adjective
scabbier;
scabbiest
\
adjective
scabbier;
scabbiest
scab
intransitive verb
scabbed;
scabbing
Medical Definition of scab (Entry 2 of 2)
: to become covered with a scab
the wound scabbed over
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scab
noun