scab — a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing
Pronunciation (IPA): /skæb/
Example Sentences
- My little brother keeps picking his scab like it's a winning lottery ticket.
- The scab on my knee finally fell off after two weeks.
- During the factory strike, crossing workers were labeled as scabs.
scab
NOUN[/skæb/]
a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing

Protective crust over healing wound

In the lab, grab the scab for closer examination!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old Norse 'skabb', meaning 'to scratch' or 'to scrape'. The word evolved to describe the crust that forms over a wound, likely from the association with the act of scratching away at such crusts.
Breakdown
Old Norse 'skabb' (to scratch, to scrape) → English 'scab' (hardened crust over a wound). The morphological shift reflects the semantic extension from the action of scratching to the resulting crusty formation.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother keeps picking his scab like it's a winning lottery ticket.”
“The scab on my knee finally fell off after two weeks.”
“During the factory strike, crossing workers were labeled as scabs.”
“She waited patiently for the scab to heal naturally without interference.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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