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   grub

   /ɡrəb/

   noun

   • 1. the larva of an insect, especially a beetle: "my onions are ruined by small grubs eating the roots"
   • ▪ a maggot or small caterpillar. Similar larvamaggotcaterpillar
   • 2. food: informal "a popular bar serving excellent grub" Similar foodnourishmentsustenancenutrimentsubsistencefarebreaddaily breadcookingbakingcuisinefoodstuffsediblesrefreshmentsmealsprovisionsrationsstoressuppliessolidsviversinformal:eatseatablesnoshchownibblesscofftuckchuckarchaic:victualsvittlesviandscommonsmeatrare:comestiblesprovenderalimentcommissariatviaticum

   verb

   • 1. dig or poke superficially at the earth; dig shallowly in soil: "the damage done to pastures by badgers grubbing for worms" Similar digexcavateburrowtunnelpoke aroundscratch aroundrake throughsift throughexploreprobeliterary:delve
   • ▪ remove (something) from the earth by digging it up: "construction operations including clearing and grubbing" Similar dig upunearthdisinteruprootroot outroot uppull uppull outtear outtake out of the groundliterary:deracinateOpposite plant
   • 2. search for something in a clumsy and unmethodical manner; rummage: "I began grubbing about in the wastepaper basket to find the envelope" Similar searchhuntdelvedigrummagescrabblescourprobeferret (around)rootriflefishpokego throughturn upside downturn inside outinformal:rootlefossick throughrare:roust
   • 3. do demeaning or humiliating work in order to achieve something: "she has achieved material independence without having to grub for it"
   • ▪ achieve or acquire (something) by doing demeaning work: "they were grubbing a living from garbage pails" Similar slavetoillaborgrindplodsweatstrugglestriveoverwork oneselfwork very hardwork one's fingers to the bonework like a Trojan/dogkeep one's nose to the grindstoneinformal:slog awayplug awaypeg awaykill oneselfput one's back into itsweat bloodknock oneself outgraftfagarchaic:drudgetravailmoilOpposite take it easy

   Word Origin Middle English: perhaps related to Dutch grobbelen, also to grave1.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • G

     2

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • B

     3

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