tr.v. scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing, scar·i·fies 1. a. To make shallow cuts in (the skin), as when vaccinating. b. To create a design on (the skin) by means of shallow cuts that are sometimes rubbed with a colorant or irritant to enhance the resulting scar tissue. 2. To break up the surface of (topsoil or pavement). 3. To distress deeply, as with severe criticism; lacerate. 4. Botany To slit or soften the outer coat of (seeds) in order to speed germination. [Middle English scarifien, from Old French scarifier, from Late Latin scarīficāre, alteration of Latin scarīfāre, from Greek skarīphāsthai, to sketch, scratch, from skarīphos, pencil, stylus; see skrībh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] scar′i·fi·cation (-fĭ-kāshən) n. scari·fi′er n. |
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