scarify

A verb used to indicate the act of making shallow cuts or scratches on a surface, such as seeds to promote germination, or skin in medical or cosmetic procedures.

• 🇪🇸Verbo que se refiere a la acción de hacer cortes superficiales o rayas en una superficie, como en semillas para estimular la germinación o en la piel en procedimientos médicos o cosméticos.

1. Puncture and scar the skin C2 formal

   To make shallow cuts or punctures in the skin, often for tribal identification, ritual purposes, or medical procedures.

   • The shaman scarified the initiate's arm as part of the coming-of-age ceremony.
   • In some cultures, they scarify the skin to create permanent patterns.
   • The doctor scarified the area before applying the vaccine.

   🇪🇸escarificar

   Sinónimos: cutgashincisemarkscarscratch

2. Scratch the surface C2 formal

   To make shallow cuts or scratches on a surface, such as soil or a road.

   • The gardener scarified the lawn to help the grass grow.
   • They scarified the road surface before repaving it.
   • The tool is used to scarify the soil for better seed germination.

   🇪🇸Escarificar (hacer incisiones o arañazos superficiales)

   Sinónimos: abraderoughenscorescrapescratch

3. Break up or loosen C2 formal

   To break up or loosen the surface of something, such as soil or a road, to improve its condition.

   • The farmer scarified the field to prepare it for planting.
   • The machine scarifies the ground to remove weeds.
   • They scarified the old pavement before laying new asphalt.

   🇪🇸Escarificar

   Sinónimos: aeratebreak upcultivateharrowloosenraketill

   Antónimos: compactcompressconsolidatepack

• scarified past participle
• scarified past simple
• scarifying present participle
• scarifies third person singular