grub

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

grub, v. i. [OE. grubbin., cf. E. grab, grope.].

•  To dig in or under the ground, generally for an object that is difficult to reach or extricate; to be occupied in digging.  [1913 Webster]
•  To drudge; to do menial work.  Richardson.  [1913 Webster]

grub, v. t. 

•  To dig; to dig up by the roots; to root out by digging; -- followed by up; as, to grub up trees, rushes, or sedge.  [1913 Webster]

  "They do not attempt to grub up the root of sin."  [1913 Webster]
•  To supply with food.  Dickens.  [1913 Webster]

grub, n. 

•  The larva of an insect, especially of a beetle; -- called also grubworm. See Illust. of Goldsmith beetle, under Goldsmith.  [1913 Webster]

  "Yet your butterfly was a grub."  [1913 Webster]
•  A short, thick man; a dwarf.  Carew.  [1913 Webster]
•  Victuals; food.  Halliwell.  [1913 Webster]

  "I 'd sooner ballads write, and grubstreet lays."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

grub, n. & v.
--n.
1 the larva of an insect, esp. of a beetle.
2 colloq. food.
--v. (grubbed, grubbing)
1 tr. & intr. dig superficially.
2 tr. a clear (the ground) of roots and stumps. b clear away (roots etc.).
3 tr. (foll. by up, out) a fetch by digging (grubbing up weeds). b extract (information etc.) by searching in books etc.
4 intr. search, rummage.
5 intr. (foll. by on, along, away) toil, plod.

Idiom

grub-screw a small headless screw, esp. used to attach a handle etc. to a spindle.

Derivative

grubber n. (also in comb.).

Etymology

ME, (v.) perh. corresp. to OE grybban (unrecorded) f. Gmc

THESAURUS

grub

accumulate, amass, assemble, aurelia, beast of burden, beat, bore, bring together, burrow, caterpillar, chow, chrysalis, chuck, cocoon, collect, comb, cull, delve, dig, dig out, dig up, dike, dredge, drill, drive, drudge, eats, edibles, excavate, fag, feed, forage, furrow, galley slave, gather, gather in, get in, get together, glean, gouge, gouge out, greasy grind, grind, groove, grub up, grubber, grubbery, hack, hammer, hammer away, hireling, larva, lower, maggot, mercenary, mine, moil, muck, nurture, nymph, nympha, peg, peg away, pick, pick up, plod, plodder, pluck, plug, plug along, plug away, poke, pound away, provender, provisions, pupa, quarry, rake, rake up, ransack, root, round up, rummage, sap, scare up, scoop, scoop out, scrabble, scrape, scrape together, scrape up, scratch, search, shovel, sink, slave, slavey, slog, slogger, spade, swot, take up, toil, travail, trench, trough, tunnel, viands, victuals, wade through, wiggler, work away, workhorse, wriggler

ROGET THESAURUS

grub

Littleness

N littleness, smallness, exiguity, inextension, parvitude, parvity, duodecimo, Elzevir edition, epitome, microcosm, rudiment, vanishing point, thinness, dwarf, pygmy, pigmy, Liliputian, chit, pigwidgeon, urchin, elf, atomy, dandiprat, doll, puppet, Tom Thumb, Hop-o'-my-thumb, manikin, mannikin, homunculus, dapperling, cock-sparrow, animalcule, monad, mite, insect, emmet, fly, midge, gnat, shrimp, minnow, worm, maggot, entozoon, bacteria, infusoria, microzoa, phytozoaria, microbe, grub, tit, tomtit, runt, mouse, small fry, millet seed, mustard seed, barleycorn, pebble, grain of sand, molehill, button, bubble, point, atom, fragment, powder, point of a pin, mathematical point, minutiae, micrometer, vernier, scale, microphotography, photomicrography, micrography, photomicrograph, microphotograph, microscopy, microscope (optical instruments), little, small, minute, diminutive, microscopic, microzoal, inconsiderable, exiguous, puny, tiny, wee, petty, minikin, miniature, pygmy, pigmy, elfin, undersized, dwarf, dwarfed, dwarfish, spare, stunted, limited, cramp, cramped, pollard, Liliputian, dapper, pocket, portative, portable, duodecimo, dumpy, squat, short, impalpable, intangible, evanescent, imperceptible, invisible, inappreciable, insignificant, inconsiderable, trivial, infinitesimal, homoeopathic, atomic, subatomic, corpuscular, molecular, rudimentary, rudimental, embryonic, vestigial, weazen, scant, scraggy, scrubby, thin, granular, shrunk, brevipennate, in a small compass, in a nutshell, on a small scale, minutely, microscopically.

Food

N food, eating, deglutition, gulp, epulation, mastication, manducation, rumination, gluttony, hippophagy, ichthyophagy, (appetite), mouth, jaws, mandible, mazard, gob, chops, drinking, potation, draught, libation, carousal, drunkenness, food, pabulum, aliment, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, sustentation, sustention, nurture, subsistence, provender, corn, feed, fodder, provision, ration, keep, commons, board, commissariat, prey, forage, pasture, pasturage, fare, cheer, diet, dietary, regimen, belly timber, staff of life, bread, bread and cheese, comestibles, eatables, victuals, edibles, ingesta, grub, grubstake, prog, meat, bread, bread stuffs, cerealia, cereals, viands, cates, delicacy, dainty, creature comforts, contents of the larder, fleshpots, festal board, ambrosia, good cheer, good living, beef, bisquit, bun, cornstarch, cookie, cooky, cracker, doughnut, fatling, hardtack, hoecake, hominy, mutton, pilot bread, pork, roti, rusk, ship biscuit, veal, joint, piece de resistance, roast and boiled, remove, entremet, releve, hash, rechauffe, stew, ragout, fricassee, mince, pottage, potage, broth, soup, consomme, puree, spoonmeat, pie, pasty, volauvent, pudding, omelet, pastry, sweets, kickshaws, condiment, appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, main course, entree, alligator pear, apple, apple slump, artichoke, ashcake, griddlecake, pancake, flapjack, atole, avocado, banana, beche de mer, barbecue, beefsteak, beet root, blackberry, blancmange, bloater, bouilli, bouillon, breadfruit, chop suey, chowder, chupatty, clam, compote, damper, fish, frumenty, grapes, hasty pudding, ice cream, lettuce, mango, mangosteen, mince pie, oatmeal, oyster, pineapple, porridge, porterhouse steak, salmis, sauerkraut, sea slug, sturgeon ("Albany beef"), succotash, supawn, trepang, vanilla, waffle, walnut, table, cuisine, bill of fare, menu, table d'hote, ordinary, entree, meal, repast, feed, spread, mess, dish, plate, course, regale, regalement, refreshment, entertainment, refection, collation, picnic, feast, banquet, junket, breakfast, lunch, luncheon, dejeuner, bever, tiffin, dinner, supper, snack, junk food, fast food, whet, bait, dessert, potluck, table d'hote, dejeuner a la fourchette, hearty meal, square meal, substantial meal, full meal, blowout, light refreshment, bara, chotahazri, bara khana, mouthful, bolus, gobbet, morsel, sop, sippet, drink, beverage, liquor, broth, soup, potion, dram, draught, drench, swill, nip, sip, sup, gulp, wine, spirits, liqueur, beer, ale, malt liquor, Sir John Barleycorn, stingo, heavy wet, grog, toddy, flip, purl, punch, negus, cup, bishop, wassail, gin, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, tea, the cup that cheers but not inebriates, bock beer, lager beer, Pilsener beer, schenck beer, Brazil tea, cider, claret, ice water, mate, mint julep, near beer, 2 beer, non- alcoholic beverage, eating house, diner, hippophage, glutton, eatable, edible, esculent, comestible, alimentary, cereal, cibarious, dietetic, culinary, nutritive, nutritious, gastric, succulent, potable, potulent, bibulous, omnivorous, carnivorous, herbivorous, granivorous, graminivorous, phytivorous, ichthyivorous, omophagic, omophagous, pantophagous, phytophagous, xylophagous, across the walnuts and the wine, blessed hour of our dinners!, now good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both!, who can cloy the hungry edge of appetite?.