scarify

1 puncture and scar (the skin), as for purposes or tribal identification or rituals; "The men in some African tribes scarify their faces"

2 scratch the surface of; "scarify seeds"

3 break up; "scarify soil" [also: scarified]

English

Pronunciation

• /ˈskæˌɹɪ.faɪ/ a UK

Verb

1. To scar.
2. Denude, or lay waste to.

Vandyke, agonize, assail, attack, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, blister, bloody, blotch, brand, castigate, chalk, chalk up, check, check off, chop, cicatrize, claw, convulse, crack, craze, crenellate, crenulate, crimp, crucify, cut, dapple, dash, deface, define, deform, delimit, demarcate, discolor, disfigure, distort, dot, engrave, excoriate, excruciate, flaw, flay, fleck, freckle, fustigate, gash, harrow, hatch, impale, impress, imprint, incise, indent, jag, kill by inches, kink, knurl, lacerate, lancinate, lash, line, macerate, machicolate, maim, make a mark, mar, mark, mark off, mark out, martyr, martyrize, mill, mottle, nick, notch, pencil, pepper, picot, pink, point, prick, print, punch, punctuate, puncture, punish, rack, riddle, rip, roast, savage, scab, scallop, scar, scathe, scorch, score, scotch, scourge, scratch, seal, seam, serrate, skin alive, slash, speck, speckle, split, splotch, spot, stain, stamp, stigmatize, streak, striate, stripe, tattoo, tick, tick off, tooth, torment, torture, trace, trounce, twist, underline, underscore, warp, wring