| English Dictionary |
GRUB (grubbed, grubbing)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, grubbing Dictionary entry overview: What does grub mean?
• GRUB (noun)
The noun GRUB has 2 senses:
1. informal terms for a meal
2. a soft thick wormlike larva of certain beetles and other insects
Familiarity information: GRUB used as a noun is rare.
• GRUB (verb)
The verb GRUB has 2 senses:
1. ask for and get free; be a parasite
2. search about busily
Familiarity information: GRUB used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Informal terms for a meal
Classified under:
Nouns denoting foods and drinks
Synonyms:
Hypernyms ("grub" is a kind of...):
fare (the food and drink that are regularly served or consumed)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A soft thick wormlike larva of certain beetles and other insects
Classified under:
Nouns denoting animals
Hypernyms ("grub" is a kind of...):
larva (the immature free-living form of most invertebrates and amphibians and fish which at hatching from the egg is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grub"):
maggot (the larva of the housefly and blowfly commonly found in decaying organic matter)
leatherjacket (tough-skinned larva of certain crane flies)
Derivation:
grubby (infested with grubs)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it grubs Past simple: grubbed
Past participle: grubbed
-ing form: grubbing
Sense 1
Meaning:
Ask for and get free; be a parasite
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
bum; cadge; grub; mooch; sponge
Hypernyms (to "grub" is one way to...):
obtain (come into possession of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "grub"):
freeload (live off somebody's generosity)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Search about busily
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "grub" is one way to...):
look for; search; seek (try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Context examples
All the time have they given him warm place to sleep and plenty grub.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
"Good grub an' a room to yourself," Joe said.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
And further, the police had arranged in two or three places deposits of grub for dog and man, and he was travelling light.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
"They'd sooner eat grub than be grub. They're pretty wise, them dogs."
(White Fang, by Jack London)
"We go grubbing along day after day, without a bit of change, and very little fun. We might as well be in a treadmill."
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
“Somehow Tommy’s grub always tastes of grease, stale grease, and I reckon he ain’t changed his shirt since he left ’Frisco.”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Only did they give him warm bed at night and plenty fine grub.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
The two men were compelled to run back to save the grub, upon which the huskies returned to the attack on the team.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
"I now propose a toast, as my 'friend and pardner, Sairy Gamp', says. Fun forever, and no grubbing!" cried Jo, rising, glass in hand, as the lemonade went round.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The air I always breathed was mixed up with grub an' house-rent an' scrappin' an booze an' that's all they talked about, too.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"He who does not work, must not eat." (Bulgarian proverb)
"Meeting death is better than trying to ignore it." (Arabic proverb)
"The grass is always greener on the other side." (Danish proverb)