to search for and pull up (roots, stumps, etc) by digging in the ground
2.
to dig up the surface of (ground, soil, etc), esp to clear away roots, stumps, etc
3. (intr; often foll by in or among)
to search carefully
4. (intransitive)
to work unceasingly, esp at a dull task or research
5. slang
to provide (a person) with food or (of a person) to take food
6. (transitive) slang, mainly US
to scrounge
to grub a cigarette
noun
7.
the short legless larva of certain insects, esp beetles
8. slang
food; victuals
9.
a person who works hard, esp in a dull plodding way
10. British informal
a dirty child
Word origin
C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German grubilōn to dig, German grübeln to rack one's brain, Middle Dutch grobben to scrape together; see grave3, groove
Examples of 'grubbing' in a sentence
grubbing
She was trapped into grubbing around in the swamp of her personal history.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE
Instead, graft and grubbing out is your best option.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But election encounters are about grubbing humbly for support.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
China is not known for its happy, acorn-grubbing, free-range porkers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is why phenomenology should not be a 'grubbing about in the soul'.
The Times Literary Supplement (2016)
Electoral terms are just three years, so politicians are perpetually power-broking and vote-grubbing.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Grubbing around for money to finance an ill-conceived fix does nothing much to help.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She was pawing the ground, grubbing up ants.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
No grubbing around for parking spaces, no hoisting bags and buggies.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is too much look-at-me selfishness, and money-grubbing, in sport these days.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All related terms of 'grubbing'
grub
A grub is a young insect which has just come out of an egg and looks like a short fat worm .
grubbed
to search for and pull up (roots, stumps , etc) by digging in the ground
money-grubbing
seeking greedily to obtain money at every opportunity
grub up
If you grub up trees or plants, or grub them out , you dig them out of the ground , usually because they are no longer wanted .