- to make scratches or superficial incisions in (the skin), to produce an immune response or administer certain injections: The smallpox vaccine, which was administered by scarifying the skin, left a telltale scar on the upper arm. During the therapeutic procedure of wet cupping, the practitioner scarifies the skin after suction.
- to scratch, etch, cut, or burn designs or images into the skin in order to create permanent decorative or symbolic scars.
- to lacerate by severe criticism.
- to loosen (the soil) with a type of cultivator.
- to hasten the sprouting of (hard-covered seeds) by making incisions in the seed coats.
- to break up (a road surface).
- to make tiny punctures or superficial incisions in (the skin or other tissue), as for inoculating
- agriculture
- to break up and loosen (soil) to a shallow depth
- to scratch or abrade the outer surface of (seeds) to increase water absorption or hasten germination
- to wound with harsh criticism
- to make scared; frighten
