scarify
Cut surface intentionally
Scarify has two meanings from different roots.
In agriculture and medicine, to scarify is to make shallow cuts or scratches in a surface—scratching seeds to help germination, or skin for vaccination.
In informal use, scarify means to frighten or intimidate, formed from scare plus -ify: The ghost story scarified the children.
This second sense is playful and uncommon.
Prepared ground for sprouting
- tillageSoil preparation for planting
- aerateExpose to circulation
- soilGround matter for planting
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
sowing · overseeding · planting · dormancy · cultivation · lawn · turf · thatch
Controlled cut into tissue
- lacerateTear tissue roughly
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
- cutSeverance or reduction
- woundCoiled, or an injury
ritual · tribal · keloid · dermis · epidermis · healing · marking · ceremonial
seedbed
Prepared ground for sprouting
germination · sowing · overseeding · planting · dormancy · cultivation · lawn · turf · thatch · grass
incision
Controlled cut into tissue
wound · ritual · tribal · keloid · dermis · epidermis · healing · marking · ceremonial · cicatrix
terrify
Cause extreme fright
daunt · dismay · horrify · petrify · unnerve · shock · intimidate · startle · panic · dread
excoriate
Severely criticize or censure
lambaste · censure · condemn · berate · upbraid · scold · chastise · reprove · admonish · harsh