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.

• 🇫🇷Verbe désignant l'action de faire des incisions ou des rayures superficielles sur une surface, par exemple sur des graines pour favoriser la germination, ou sur la peau lors de procédures médicales ou esthétiques.

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.

   🇫🇷scarifier (la peau)

   Synonymes: 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.

   🇫🇷scarifier (surface)

   Synonymes: 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.

   🇫🇷scarifier

   Synonymes: aeratebreak upcultivateharrowloosenraketill

   Antonymes: compactcompressconsolidatepack

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