a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing, a person who continues to work or who takes the place of a striking worker

pick at a scab, scab over, scab labor

Formal and Informal Expressions of scab

In different contexts, you can replace 'scab' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'crust, coagulum' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'scrape, scratch' is a commonplace synonym.

scab: Explore its Definition & Usage

scab Definition

1a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing
2a person who continues to work or who takes the place of a striking worker

Using scab: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "scab" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The scab on his knee was starting to itch.
Example
The workers accused the company of hiring scabs to break the strike.

scab Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for scab

Phrases with scab

pick at a scab
to repeatedly interfere with or aggravate a situation that is best left alone
Example
He kept picking at the scab of their old argument, making things worse.
scab over
to form a scab and begin to heal
Example
The wound will scab over in a few days.
scab labor
workers hired to replace those on strike
Example
The use of scab labor during the strike caused a lot of tension between the workers and the company.

Origins of scab

from Old Norse 'skabbr'

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Summary: scab in Brief

The term 'scab' [skæb] refers to a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing. It can also refer to a person who continues to work or who takes the place of a striking worker. The phrase 'pick at a scab' means to repeatedly interfere with or aggravate a situation that is best left alone, while 'scab over' means to form a scab and begin to heal.