scab

skin

1. Countable

   A hardened crust that forms over a wound or broken skin during the healing process.

   • After he fell, a thick scab formed on his knee.

   • Don't pick at the scab, or it will leave a scar.

   • The formation of a scab is a natural part of the body's healing process.

2. Uncountable

   A skin disease affecting animals, particularly sheep, or a plant disease causing spots or lesions.

   • This form of sheep scab is difficult to treat.

   • The apple trees were infected with apple scab.

   • The disease caused red scabs on the animal's skin.

worker

1. Countableinformal

   A derogatory term for a person who refuses to join a strike or who works in place of striking workers.

   • The union members referred to those who continued working as scabs.

   • He was considered a scab for continuing to work despite his colleagues' strike.

   • Those who worked during the strike faced severe criticism as scabs.

1. Intransitive

   To form a scab or become covered with a scab during the healing process.

   • After a week, the wound began to scab over.

   • Within days, the scratch had scabbed over.

   • Don't touch it, or the wound won't scab over.