scabbing
scabbing — noun
- scabbingsingular
- scabbingsplural
1. the crusty covering that appears on a skin cut or scrape while the body repairs
the crusty covering that appears on a skin cut or scrape while the body repairs the damaged tissue, or the process of this covering forming and dropping off
Camille tried not to pick at the scabbing on her knee after she fell off her bicycle.
collocation: scabbing on + body part
The scabbing around the wound looked healthy, so the nurse told Eitan the cut was healing well.
scabbing around + area; typical medical context
Heather watched the scabbing form over her son's scraped elbow over the next few days.
Leo's doctor said some scabbing was normal after the surgery and would fall off on its own.
The scabbing on the toddler's chin disappeared after about a week, leaving clean new skin underneath.
文法句型
the scabbing on + body part
scabbing + forms / appears
用法筆記
'Scabbing' is the present participle and gerund form of the verb 'scab', also used as a noun derived from 'scab'. Frequently used with a partitive phrase ('scabbing on + body part'). Unlike 'scab' (which refers to one crust), 'scabbing' emphasizes the visible scabby area or the ongoing healing process. Common in medical advice contexts.
常見錯誤
2. an itchy skin problem found mainly in livestock such as sheep, producing crusty
an itchy skin problem found mainly in livestock such as sheep, producing crusty patches and loss of fur or wool
Reema noticed scabbing on the sheep's back and called the veterinarian right away.
collocation: scabbing on + animal
The shepherd treated the scabbing across the flock with a special medicated wash.
scabbing across + [group]; passive treatment pattern
Valentina learned in her veterinary course that scabbing in sheep is often caused by tiny mites under the skin.
Scabbing spread quickly through the herd during the wet winter months.
The farmer separated the lambs with scabbing from the rest to stop the disease from reaching the whole flock.
- sheep scab
the specific common name for this mite-caused disease in sheep
- mange
a broader term for mite-caused skin disease in various animals
文法句型
scabbing + in + animal
scabbing + spreads + through + herd
用法筆記
This sense is an agricultural and veterinary term. It does not describe human medical conditions; for human skin, use 'rash', 'dermatitis', or the specific diagnosis. Distinguish from noun sense 1 (wound covering), which is about injuries, not diseases.
常見錯誤
3. a plant disease, caused by fungi or bacteria, that produces rough, dry, scab-lik
a plant disease, caused by fungi or bacteria, that produces rough, dry, scab-like patches on the skin of fruit or on leaves — common on apples, pears, and potatoes
Hugo noticed dark scabbing on the apple skins and knew the orchard had a fungus problem.
collocation: scabbing on + [fruit/plant part]
The gardener sprayed the trees early in spring to prevent scabbing from ruining the pear harvest.
prevent + scabbing + from + -ing — prevention pattern
Scabbing on potato skins does not make the potatoes unsafe to eat, but it lowers their market value.
A warm, wet spring created perfect conditions for scabbing to spread across the orchard.
The botanist identified the scabbing on the leaves as a sign of bacterial infection, not a fungus.
- apple scab
the specific fungal disease affecting apple trees; the most common form of plant scabbing
- potato scab
a bacterial disease that causes rough patches on potato skins
文法句型
scabbing + on + fruit/leaves
scabbing + affects + crop
用法筆記
Unlike noun sense 1 (wound covering), this sense refers to a plant disease, not an injury response. 'Apple scab' is the specific name for the most common form, caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. The fruit is usually still edible after peeling.
常見錯誤
4. the practice of continuing to work while one's coworkers are on strike, or a per
the practice of continuing to work while one's coworkers are on strike, or a person who does this; a strongly offensive term used by people who support the strike
The union members shouted at William for scabbing when he crossed the picket line on Monday morning.
scabbing as a gerund noun — 'for scabbing' pattern
Mert was accused of scabbing after he drove a delivery truck while the other drivers were on strike.
passive: accused of scabbing
Tempers ran high when the manager hired replacements — striking staff called it scabbing.
Workers who stayed home during the strike said they would never forgive their colleagues who chose scabbing over solidarity.
- strikebreaking
the neutral term for working during a strike; lacks the offensive emotional charge
- crossing the picket line
the act of walking past striking workers to enter the workplace; more specific
- solidarity
the principle of supporting fellow workers by refusing to cross picket lines
文法句型
scabbing + during + strike
accuse + someone + of + scabbing
用法筆記
STRONGLY OFFENSIVE. This sense is used as a term of insult and condemnation by striking workers and their supporters. It carries deep social and political weight in labour disputes. Avoid using this term lightly; it can provoke anger or hostility. Use neutral terms like 'strikebreaker' or 'replacement worker' in formal or unbiased contexts.
常見錯誤
scabbing — verb
- scabbingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- scabbings3rd person singular
- scabbinging-ing form
- scabbingedpast simple
1. of a wound, cut, or injury, to develop a hard, dry crust of dried blood as part
of a wound, cut, or injury, to develop a hard, dry crust of dried blood as part of the natural healing process
Antonia's knee is scabbing nicely after she scraped it on the pavement last week.
present continuous: is scabbing — ongoing process
The nurse told Hoa to keep the cut clean and let it scab over naturally without picking at it.
phrasal pattern: scab over — complete the crust formation
The scrape on the child's palm started scabbing by the third day and was fully healed two days later.
Deep cuts take longer to scab over than shallow scratches because more tissue needs to repair itself.
The wound on Diya's forearm had scabbed over completely by the time she visited her doctor for a check-up.
- crust over
more informal; describes the same process of forming a dry layer
- heal over
broader term; includes scabbing as part of the healing process but does not specifically mention the crust
- bleed
the wound bleeds before it scabs; scabbing is the opposite of active bleeding
文法句型
scab + over
be scabbing
start scabbing
用法筆記
Frequently used with the particle 'over' to emphasize complete coverage of the wound (e.g., 'scab over'). Unlike noun sense 1, which describes the scab as a thing, this verb sense describes the healing action. The progressive form ('is scabbing') is common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. to continue working while one's coworkers are on strike, or to accept a job that
to continue working while one's coworkers are on strike, or to accept a job that replaces a striking worker; a strongly insulting term used within labour disputes
Jabari refused to scab on his colleagues even when offered extra pay during the bus strike.
phrasal: scab on + someone — working against striking coworkers
The union leader warned that anyone caught scabbing would face consequences after the strike ended.
passive gerund: caught scabbing — disapproval pattern
Adina felt ashamed after scabbing during the hospital workers' strike, so she joined the picket line the next day.
Drivers who scabbed during the transport strike found their tyres slashed and their families threatened.
- cross the picket line
more neutral phrasing for the same action; describes entering the workplace past striking workers
- strikebreak
rarely used verb form; 'act as a strikebreaker' is more natural
- join the strike
the opposite action — refusing to work in solidarity with coworkers
- picket
to stand outside the workplace protesting and urging others not to enter
文法句型
scab + on + someone
scab + during + strike
用法筆記
STRONGLY OFFENSIVE. This verb carries the same taboo weight as noun sense 4. Never use it in neutral or formal writing about labour disputes. The neutral alternative is 'to work as a strikebreaker' or 'to cross the picket line'. In contexts where the speaker supports the strike, this verb may be used with strong emotional force. The subject is always a person — objects are grammatically blocked (no 'scab someone').