sc -abbr
- scene
- science
- scilicet
- he carved it; she carved it; he engraved it; she engraved it
Sc -abbr
- stratocumulus
- scandium
SC -abbr
- small capitals
- South Carolina
- supercalendered
- supreme court
scab ['skab] -n
- scabies of domestic animals
- a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound
- a contemptible person
- a worker who refuses to join a labor union
- a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended
- a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike
- one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms
- any of various bacterial or fungus diseases of plants characterized by crustaceous spots
- one of the spots
- to become covered with a scab
- to act as a scab
scab·bard ['ska-bərd] -n, vt
- a sheath for a sword, dagger, or bayonet
scab·by ['ska-bē] -adj
- covered with or full of scabs
- diseased with scab
- mean, contemptible
sca·bies ['skā-bēz] -n, adj
- contagious itch or mange esp. with exudative crusts that is caused by parasitic mites (esp. Sarcoptes scabiei)
sca·bi·ous ['skā-bē-əs, 'ska-] -n
- any of a genus ( Scabiosa) of Old World herbs of the teasel family with terminal flower heads subtended by a leafy involucre
scabious -adj
- scabby
- of, relating to, or resembling scabies
scab·land ['skab-,land] -n
- a region characterized by elevated tracts of rocky land with little or no soil cover and traversed or isolated by postglacial dry stream channels usu. used in pl.
sca·brous ['ska-brəs also 'skā-] -adj, adv, n
- difficult, knotty
- : rough to the touch: as
- having small raised dots, scales, or points
- covered with raised, roughened, or unwholesome patches
- dealing with suggestive, indecent, or scandalous themes : salacious
- squalid
scad ['skad] -n
- any of several carangid fishes (esp. of the genus Decapterus)
- a large number or quantity usu. used in pl.
scaf·fold ['ska-fəld also -,fōld] -n
- a temporary or movable platform for workers (as bricklayers, painters, or miners) to stand or sit on when working at a height above the floor or ground
- a platform on which a criminal is executed (as by hanging or beheading)
- a platform at a height above ground or floor level
- a supporting framework
scaf·fold·ing [-fəl-diŋ, -,fōl-] -n
- a system of scaffolds
- material for scaffolds
scag ['skag] -n
- heroin
sca·glio·la [skal-'yō-lə, -'yȯ-] -n
- an imitation marble used for floors, columns, and ornamental interior work
scal·able ['skā-lə-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being scaled
- capable of being easily expanded or upgraded on demand
- a scalable computer network
sca·lade [skə-'lād, -'läd] -n
- escalade
sca·lar ['skā-lər-, -,lär] -adj
- having an uninterrupted series of steps : graduated
- scalar chain of authority
- capable of being represented by a point on a scale
- of or relating to a scalar or scalar product
scalar -n
- a real number rather than a vector
- a quantity (as mass or time) that has a magnitude describable by a real number and no direction
sca·la·re [skə-'ler-ē, -'lär-] -n
- angelfish
sca·lar·i·form [skə-'la-rə-,fȯrm] -adj, adv
- resembling a ladder esp. in having transverse bars or markings like the rungs of a ladder
- scalariform cells in plants
scalar product -n
- a real number that is the product of the lengths of two vectors and the cosine of the angle between them called also dot product inner product
scal·a·wag ['ska-li-,wag] -n
- scamp, reprobate
- a white Southerner acting in support of the reconstruction governments after the American Civil War often for private gain
scald ['skȯld] -vb
- to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam
- to subject to the action of boiling water or steam
- to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point
- scorch
- to scald something
- to become scalded
- an injury to the body caused by scalding
- an act or process of scalding
- any of various conditions or diseases of plants or fruits marked esp. by a usu. brownish discoloration of tissue
- scabby, scurfy
- shabby, contemptible
scald ['skȯld, 'skäld] -n, adj
(variant of skald)
- an ancient Scandinavian poet
- bard
scald·ing ['skȯl-diŋ] -adj
- hot enough to scald
- having or producing the feeling of being burned
- scathing
scale ['skāl] -n
- either pan or tray of a balance
- a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends usu. used in pl.
- an instrument or machine for weighing
- to weigh in scales
- to have a specified weight on scales
- a small, flattened, rigid, and definitely circumscribed plate forming part of the external body covering esp. of a fish
- a small thin plate suggesting a fish scale
- the scale s on a moth's wing
- the scaly covering of a scaled animal
- a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin
- : a thin coating, layer, or incrustation: as
- a usu. black scaly coating of oxide forming on the surface of a metal (as iron) when it is heated for processing
- a hard incrustation usu. rich in sulfate of calcium that is deposited on the inside of a vessel (as a boiler) in which water is heated
- a modified leaf protecting a seed plant bud before expansion
- a thin, membranous, chaffy, or woody bract
- any of the small overlapping usu. metal pieces forming the outer surface of scale armor
- scale armor
- scale insect
- infestation with or disease caused by scale insects
- to remove the scale or scales from (as by scraping)
- to take off in thin layers or scales
- scale tartar from the teeth
- to throw (as a thin flat stone) so that the edge cuts the air or so that it skips on water : skim
- to separate and come off in scales : flake
- to shed scales
- to attack with or take by means of scaling ladders
- to climb up or reach by means of a ladder
- to reach the highest point of : surmount
- to arrange in a graduated series
- to measure by or as if by a scale
- to measure or estimate the sound content of (as logs)
- to pattern, make, regulate, set, or estimate according to some rate or standard : adjust
- a production schedule scaled to actual need
often used with back, down, or up - to climb by or as if by a ladder
- to rise in a graduated series
- measure
- ladder
- a means of ascent
- a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified scheme of their intervals
- : something graduated esp. when used as a measure or rule: as
- a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)
- an indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances
- ruler
- a graduated series or scheme of rank or order
- minimum wage
- a proportion between two sets of dimensions (as between those of a drawing and its original)
- a distinctive relative size, extent, or degree
- projects done on a large scale
- a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement
- escalade
- an estimate of the amount of sound lumber in logs or standing timber
scale armor -n
- armor of small metallic scales on leather or cloth
scaledown ['skāl-,dau̇n] -n
- a reduction according to a fixed ratio
scale insect -n
- any of numerous small prolific homopterous insects (superfamily Coccoidea) that have winged males, wingless scale-covered females attached to the host plant, and young that suck the juices of plants and some of which are serious pests
scale·like ['skāl-,līk] -adj
- resembling a scale
- reduced to a minute appressed element resembling a scale
sca·lene ['skā-,lēn, skā-'] -adj
- having the three sides of unequal length
scal·er ['skā-lər] -n
- one that scales
- a dental instrument for removing tartar from teeth
scaleup ['skāl-,əp] -n
- an increase according to a fixed ratio
scall ['skȯl] -n
- a scurf or scabby disorder (as of the scalp)
scal·lion ['skal-yən] -n
- shallot
- leek
- an onion forming a thick basal portion without a bulb
- green onion
scal·lop ['skä-ləp, 'ska-, 'skȯ-] -n
- any of numerous marine bivalve lamellibranch mollusks (family Pectinidae) that have a radially ribbed shell with the edge undulated and that swim by opening and closing the valves
- the adductor muscle of a scallop as an article of food
- a valve or shell of a scallop
- a baking dish shaped like a valve of a scallop
- one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border (as on cloth or metal)
- pattypan
- a thin slice of boneless meat or fish called also escalope
scallop -vt
- to shape, cut, or finish in scallops
- to form scallops in
- to bake in a sauce usu. covered with seasoned bread or cracker crumbs
- to gather or dredge scallops
scal·lop·er [-lə-pər] -n
- a person who dredges for or gathers scallops
- a boat equipped and used to dredge for scallops
scallywag ['ska-li-,wag] -n
(variant of scalawag)
- scamp, reprobate
- a white Southerner acting in support of the reconstruction governments after the American Civil War often for private gain
sca·lo·gram ['skā-lə-,gram] -n
- an arrangement of items (as problems on a test or features of speech) in ascending order so that the presence or accomplishment of an item at one level implies the presence of or the capability to accomplish items at all lower levels
sca·lop·pi·ne [,skä-lə-'pē-nē, ,ska-] -n
- thin slices of meat (as veal) sauteed or coated with flour and fried
scalp ['skalp] -n
- the part of the integument of the human head usu. covered with hair in both sexes
- the part of an animal (as a wolf or fox) corresponding to the human scalp
- a part of the human scalp with attached hair cut or torn from an enemy as a token of victory
- a trophy of victory or accomplishment
- a projecting mass of bare ground or rock
- to deprive of the scalp
- to remove an upper part from
- to remove a desired constituent from and discard the rest
- to buy and sell so as to make small quick profits
- to resell at greatly increased prices
- to take scalps
- to profit by slight market fluctuations
scal·pel ['skal-pəl also skal-'pel] -n
- a small straight thin-bladed knife used esp. in surgery
scalp lock -n
- a long tuft of hair on the crown of the otherwise shaved head esp. of a warrior of some American Indian tribes
scaly ['skā-lē] -adj, n
- covered with, composed of, or rich in scale or scales
- flaky
- of or relating to scaly animals
- despicable, poor
- a regular scaly old shop -- Charles Dickens
- infested with scale insects
scaly anteater -n
- pangolin
scam ['skam] -n
- a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation
- deceive, defraud
- to obtain (as money) by a scam
scam·mo·ny ['ska-mə-nē] -n
- a twining convolvulus ( Convolvulus scammonia) of Asia Minor with a large thick root
- the dried root of scammony
- a cathartic resin obtained from scammony
scamp ['skamp] -n, adj
- rascal, rogue
- an impish or playful young person
- to perform or deal with in a hasty, neglectful, or imperfect manner
scam·per ['skam-pər] -vi
- to run nimbly and usu. playfully about
scamper -n
- a playful or hurried run or movement
scam·pi ['skam-pē, 'skäm-] -n
- a usu. large shrimp
- large shrimp prepared with a garlic-flavored sauce
scam·ster ['skam(p)-stər] -n
- one that scams : scammer
scan ['skan] -vb, adj
- to read or mark so as to show metrical structure
- : to examine by point-by-point observation or checking:
- to investigate thoroughly by checking point by point and often repeatedly
- a fire lookout scanning the hills with binoculars
- to glance from point to point of often hastily, casually, or in search of a particular item
- scan the want ads looking for a job
- to examine systematically (as by passing a beam of radiation over or through) in order to obtain data esp. for display or storage
- scanned the patient's heart
- scan the photos into the computer
- to pass over in the formation of an image
- the electron beam scan s the picture tube
- to scan verse
- to conform to a metrical pattern
- the act or process of scanning
- a radar or television trace
- : an image formed by scanning something: as
- a depiction (as a photograph) of the distribution of a radioactive material in something (as a bodily organ)
- an image of a bodily part produced (as by computer) by combining ultrasonic or radiographic data obtained from several angles or sections
Scand -abbr
- Scandinavia
scan·dal ['skan-dᵊl] -n
- discredit brought upon religion by unseemly conduct in a religious person
- conduct that causes or encourages a lapse of faith or of religious obedience in another
- loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety : disgrace
- a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it
- a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality
- a scandal to the profession
- malicious or defamatory gossip
- indignation, chagrin, or bewilderment brought about by a flagrant violation of morality, propriety, or religious opinion
scandal -vt
- disgrace
- defame, slander
scan·dal·ise ['skan-də-,līz] -vt
(variant of scandalize)
- to speak falsely or maliciously of
- to bring into reproach
- to offend the moral sense of : shock
- she was scandalized by his behavior
scan·dal·ize ['skan-də-,līz] -vt
- to speak falsely or maliciously of
- to bring into reproach
- to offend the moral sense of : shock
- she was scandalized by his behavior
scan·dal·mon·ger ['skan-dᵊl-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n
- a person who circulates scandal
scan·dal·ous ['skan-də-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- libelous, defamatory
- offensive to propriety or morality : shocking
scandal sheet -n
- a newspaper or periodical dealing to a large extent in scandal and gossip
scan·dent ['skan-dənt] -adj
- characterized by a climbing mode of growth
Scan·di·an ['skan-dē-ən] -adj, n
- scandinavian
- of or relating to the languages of Scandinavia
Scan·di·na·vian [,skan-də-'nā-vē-ən, -vyən] -n, adj
- the North Germanic languages
- a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia
- a person of Scandinavian descent
scan·di·um ['skan-dē-əm] -n
- a silvery-white metallic element found widely esp. in association with rare earth elements and used esp. in alloys and in high-intensity electric lamps
scan·ner ['ska-nər] -n
- : one that scans: as
- a device for sensing recorded data (as in a bar code)
- a radio receiver that sequentially scans a range of frequencies for a signal
- a device that scans an image (as a photograph) or document (as a page of text) esp. for use or storage on a computer
- a medical device for scanning a living body to collect diagnostic information
scanning electron microscope -n
- an electron microscope in which a beam of focused electrons moves across the object with the secondary electrons produced by the object and the electrons scattered by the object being collected to form a three-dimensional image on a display screen called also scanning microscope
scanning tunneling microscope -n
- a microscope that makes use of the phenomenon of tunneling electrons to map the positions of individual atoms in a surface or to move atoms around on a surface
scan·sion ['skan(t)-shən] -n
- the analysis of verse to show its meter
scant ['skant] -adj, adv, n
- excessively frugal
- not prodigal : chary
- barely or scarcely sufficient
- not quite coming up to a stated measure
- lacking in amplitude or quantity
- having a small or insufficient supply
- he's fat, and scant of breath -- Shak.
- scarcely, hardly
- to provide an incomplete supply of
- to make small, narrow, or meager
- to give scant attention to : slight
- to provide with a meager or inadequate portion or supply : stint
scant·ies ['skan-tēz] -n pl
- abbreviated panties for women
scant·ling ['skant-liŋ, -lən] -n
- the dimensions of timber and stone used in building
- the dimensions of a structural element used in shipbuilding often used in pl.
- a small quantity, amount, or proportion : modicum
- a small piece of lumber (as an upright piece in house framing)
scanty ['skan-tē] -adj, adv, n
- limited or less than sufficient in degree, quantity, or extent
scape ['skāp] -vb
- escape
- some innocents scape not the thunderbolt -- Shak.
- a peduncle arising at or beneath the surface of the ground in an acaulescent plant (as the tulip)
- a flower stalk
- the shaft of an animal part (as an antenna or feather)
- a view or picture of a scene usu. used in combination
scape·goat ['skāp-,gōt] -n
- a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur
- one that bears the blame for others
- one that is the object of irrational hostility
scapegoat [-,gō-,ti-zəm] -vt, n
- to make a scapegoat of
scape·grace ['skāp-,grās] -n
- an incorrigible rascal
scaph·oid ['ska-,fȯid] -n, adj
- navicular
- the bone of the thumb side of the carpus that is the largest in the proximal row
- the navicular bone of the tarsus
scap·o·lite ['ska-pə-,līt] -n
- any of a group of minerals that are essentially complex silicates of aluminum, calcium, and sodium and that include some used as semiprecious stones
scap·u·la ['ska-pyə-lə] -n
- either of a pair of large triangular bones lying one in each dorsal lateral part of the thorax, being the principal bone of the corresponding half of the shoulder girdle, and articulating with the corresponding clavicle or coracoid called also shoulder blade
scap·u·lar [-lər] -n
- a long wide band of cloth with an opening for the head worn front and back over the shoulders as part of a monastic habit
- a pair of small cloth squares joined by shoulder tapes and worn under the clothing on the breast and back as a sacramental and often also as a badge of a third order or confraternity
- scapula
- one of the feathers covering the base of a bird's wing
scapular -adj
- of or relating to the shoulder, the scapula, or scapulars
scapular medal -n
- a medal worn in place of a sacramental scapular
scar ['skär] -n
- an isolated or protruding rock
- a steep rocky eminence : a bare place on the side of a mountain
- a mark left (as in the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
- a mark left on a stem or branch by a fallen leaf or harvested fruit
- cicatrix
- a mark or indentation resulting from damage or wear
- a lasting moral or emotional injury
- one of his men had been killed...in a manner that left a scar upon his mind -- H. G. Wells
- to mark with a scar
- to do lasting injury to
- to form a scar
- to become scarred
scar·ab ['ska-rəb] -n
- any of a family (Scarabaeidae) of stout-bodied beetles (as a dung beetle) with lamellate or fan-shaped antennae
- a stone or faience beetle used in ancient Egypt as a talisman, ornament, and a symbol of resurrection
scar·a·bae·us [,ska-rə-'bē-əs] -n
- scarab
scar·a·mouch ['skar-ə-,müsh, -,müch, -,mau̇ch] -n
- a stock character in the Italian commedia dell'arte that burlesques the Spanish don and is characterized by boastfulness and cowardliness
- a cowardly buffoon
- rascal, scamp
scarce ['skers] -adj, n
- deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand : not plentiful or abundant
- intentionally absent
- made himself scarce at inspection time
- scarcely, hardly
- scarce was independence half a century old, when a...split occurred -- John McPhee
scarce·ly -adv
- by a narrow margin : only just
- had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open -- Agnes S. Turnbull
- almost not
- could scarcely see for the fog
- certainly not
- probably not
- there could scarcely have been found a leader better equipped -- V. L. Parrington
scar·ci·ty ['sker-sə-tē, -stē] -n
- the quality or state of being scarce
- want of provisions for the support of life
scare ['sker] -vb, n
- to frighten esp. suddenly : alarm
- to become scared
- a sudden fright
- a widespread state of alarm : panic
scare·crow ['sker-,krō] -n
- an object usu. suggesting a human figure that is set up to frighten birds away from crops
- something frightening but harmless
- a skinny or ragged person
scared -adj
- thrown into or being in a state of fear, fright, or panic
scaredycat ['sker-dē-,kat] -n
- an unduly fearful person
scare·head ['sker-,hed] -n
- a big, sensational, or alarming newspaper headline
scare·mon·ger [-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n
- one inclined to raise or excite alarms esp. needlessly
scare quotes -n pl
- quotation marks used to express esp. skepticism or derision concerning the use of the enclosed word or phrase
scare up -vt
- to find or get together with considerable labor or difficulty : scrape up
- managed to scare up the money
scarf ['skärf] -n
- either of the chamfered or cutaway ends that fit together to form a scarf joint
- an in-line joint made by chamfering, halving, or notching two pieces to correspond and lapping them
- to unite by a scarf joint
- to form a scarf on
- a military or official sash usu. indicative of rank
- tippet
- a broad band of cloth worn about the shoulders, around the neck, or over the head
- runner
- to wrap, cover, or adorn with or as if with a scarf
- to wrap or throw on (a scarf or mantle) loosely
- scoff
- scarf ed down my sandwich
- snap
- scarf ed up the best seats
scarf·pin ['skärf-,pin] -n
- tiepin
scarf·skin ['skärf-,skin] -n
- epidermis
- that forming the cuticle of a nail
scar·i·fi·ca·tion [,sker-ə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of scarifying
- a mark or marks made by scarifying
scar·i·fy ['sker-ə-,fī] -vt, n
- to make scratches or small cuts in (as the skin)
- scarify an area for vaccination
- to lacerate the feelings of
- to break up, loosen, or roughen the surface of (as a field or road)
- to cut or soften the wall of (a hard seed) to hasten germination
scarify [-,fī-iŋ-lē] -vt, adv
- scare, frighten
scar·i·ous ['sker-ē-əs] -adj
- dry and membranous in texture
scar·la·ti·na [,skär-lə-'tē-nə] -n, adj
- scarlet fever
scar·let ['skär-lət] -n
- scarlet cloth or clothes
- any of various bright reds
scarlet -adj
- of the color scarlet
- grossly and glaringly offensive
- sinning in flagrant and scarlet fashion -- G. W. Johnson
- of, characterized by, or associated with sexual immorality
scarlet fever -n
- an acute contagious febrile disease caused by hemolytic Group A streptococci and characterized by inflammation of the nose, throat, and mouth, generalized toxemia, and a red rash
scarlet letter -n
- a scarlet A worn as a punitive mark of adultery
scarlet pimpernel -n
- a European pimpernel ( Anagallis arvensis) naturalized in No. America and having scarlet, white, or purplish flowers that close in cloudy weather
- a person who rescues others from mortal danger by smuggling them across a border
scarlet runner bean -n
- a tropical American high-climbing bean ( Phaseolus coccineus) that has large bright red flowers and red and black seeds and is grown widely as an ornamental and as a food bean called also scarlet runner
scarlet sage -n
- a salvia ( Salvia splendens) of Brazil that is widely cultivated for its long racemes of typically scarlet flowers
- a related salvia ( S. coccinea) of tropical and subtropical America
scarlet tanager -n
- a common American tanager ( Piranga olivacea) with the male having scarlet plumage and black wings during the breeding season and the female having chiefly olive plumage
scarp ['skärp] -n, adj
- the inner side of a ditch below the parapet of a fortification
- a line of cliffs produced by faulting or erosion
- a low steep slope along a beach caused by wave erosion
scar·per ['skär-pər] -vi
- flee, run away
- leave, depart
scar·ry ['skär-ē] -adj
- bearing marks of wounds : scarred
scar tissue -n
- the connective tissue forming a scar and composed chiefly of fibroblasts in recent scars and largely of dense collagenous fibers in old scars
scary ['sker-ē] -adj, adv
- causing fright : alarming
- easily scared : timid
- feeling alarm or fright : frightened
scat ['skat] -vi
- to go away quickly
- to move fast : scoot
- an animal fecal dropping
- jazz singing with nonsense syllables
- to improvise nonsense syllables usu. to an instrumental accompaniment : sing scat
SCAT -abbr
- School and College Ability Test
- supersonic commercial air transport
scat·back ['skat-,bak] -n
- an offensive back in football who is an esp. fast and elusive ballcarrier
scathe ['skāth, 'skāth] -n, adj
- harm, injury
- to do harm to
- scorch, sear
- to assail with withering denunciation
scathing -adj, adv
- bitterly severe
sca·tol·o·gy [ska-'tä-lə-jē, skə-] -n, adj
- interest in or treatment of obscene matters esp. in literature
- the biologically oriented study of excrement (as for taxonomic purposes or for the determination of diet)
scatt ['skat] -n
- tax, tribute
scat·ter ['ska-tər] -vb, n
- to cause to separate widely
- to cause to vanish
- to fling away heedlessly : squander
- to distribute irregularly
- to sow by casting in all directions : strew
- to reflect irregularly and diffusely
- to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse
- to divide into ineffectual small portions
- to separate and go in various directions : disperse
- to occur or fall irregularly or at random
scatter -n
- the act of scattering
- a small quantity or number irregularly distributed or strewn about : scattering
- the state or extent of being scattered
- dispersion
scat·ter·ation [,ska-tə-'rā-shən] -n
- the act or process of scattering : the state of being scattered
- the movement of people and industry away from the city
- the resulting regional urbanization
- a policy of distributing funds and energies in too many ineffectively small units
scat·ter·brain ['ska-tər-,brān] -n
- a giddy heedless person
scat·ter·brained [-,brānd] -adj
- having the characteristics of a scatterbrain
scatter diagram -n
- a two-dimensional graph in rectangular coordinates consisting of points whose coordinates represent values of two variables under study
scat·ter·good ['ska-tər-,gu̇d] -n
- a wasteful person : spendthrift
scat·ter·gram [-,gram] -n
- scatter diagram
scat·ter·gun [-,gən] -n or adj
- shotgun
scat·ter·ing ['ska-tə-riŋ] -n
- an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered
- : something scattered: as
- a small number or quantity interspersed here and there
- the random change in direction of the particles constituting a beam or wave front due to collision with particles of the medium traversed
scattering ['ska-tə-riŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- going in various directions
- found or placed far apart and in no order
- divided among many or several
scatter rug -n
- throw rug
scat·ter·shot ['ska-tər-,shät] -adj
- broadly and often randomly inclusive : shotgun
scat·ty ['ska-tē] -adj
- crazy
scaup ['skȯp] -n
- either of two diving ducks ( Aythya affinisor A. marila) with the male having a glossy purplish or greenish head and a black breast and tail
scav·enge ['ska-vənj, -vinj] -vb
- to remove (as dirt or refuse) from an area
- to clean away dirt or refuse from : cleanse
- to feed on (carrion or refuse)
- to remove (burned gases) from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine after a working stroke
- to remove (as an undesirable constituent) from a substance or region by chemical or physical means
- to clean and purify (molten metal) by taking up foreign elements in chemical union
- to salvage from discarded or refuse material
- to salvage usable material from
- to work or act as a scavenger
scav·en·ger ['ska-vən-jər] -n
- a person employed to remove dirt and refuse from streets
- : one that scavenges: as
- a garbage collector
- a junk collector
- a chemically active substance acting to make innocuous or remove an undesirable substance
- an organism that typically feeds on refuse or carrion
scavenger hunt -n
- a game in which players try to acquire without buying specified items within a time limit
ScD -abbr
- doctor of science
sce·na ['shā-(,)nä] -n
- an elaborate solo vocal composition that consists of a recitative usu. followed by one or more aria sections
sce·nar·io [sə-'ner-ē-,ō, US also and esp Brit -'när-] -n
- an outline or synopsis of a play
- a plot outline used by actors of the commedia dell'arte
- the libretto of an opera
- screenplay
- shooting script
- a sequence of events esp. when imagined
- an account or synopsis of a possible course of action or events
- his scenario for a settlement envisages...reunification -- Selig Harrison
sce·nar·ist [-'ner-ist] -n
- a writer of scenarios
scend ['send] -n
- the lift of a wave : send
- the upward movement of a pitching ship
scene ['sēn] -n
- : one of the subdivisions of a play: as
- a division of an act presenting continuous action in one place
- a single situation or unit of dialogue in a play
- a motion-picture or television episode or sequence
- a stage setting
- a real or imaginary prospect suggesting a stage setting
- the place of an occurrence or action : locale
- an exhibition of anger or indecorous behavior
- sphere of activity
- situation
scen·ery ['sē-nə-rē, 'sēn-rē] -n
- the painted scenes or hangings and accessories used on a theater stage
- a picturesque view or landscape
- one's usual surroundings
- needed a change of scenery
scene·shift·er ['sēn-,shif-tər] -n
- a worker who moves the scenes in a theater
scenesteal·er [-,stē-lər] -n
- an actor who attracts attention when another is intended to be the center of attention
sce·nic ['sē-nik also 'se-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the stage, a stage setting, or stage representation
- of or relating to natural scenery
- representing an action, event, or episode
scenic railway -n
- a miniature railway (as in an amusement park) with artificial scenery along the way
sce·nog·ra·phy [sē-'nä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- the art of perspective representation esp. as applied to the design and painting of stage scenery
scent ['sent] -n, adj
- : effluvia from a substance that affect the sense of smell: as
- an odor left by an animal on a surface passed over
- a characteristic or particular odor
- one that is agreeable
- power of smelling : sense of smell
- power of detection : nose
- a course of pursuit or discovery
- inkling, intimation
- perfume
- bits of paper dropped in the game of hare and hounds
- a mixture prepared for use as a lure in hunting or fishing
- to perceive by the olfactory organs : smell
- to get or have an inkling of
- to imbue or fill with odor
- scent ed the air with perfume
- to yield an odor of some specified kind
- to bear indication or suggestions
- to use the nose in seeking or tracking prey
scent·ed ['sen-təd] -adj
- : having scent: as
- having a perfumed smell
- having the sense of smell
- having or exhaling an odor
scent hound -n
- a hound (as a bloodhound) that hunts and pursues game by scent rather than by sight
scep·ter ['sep-tər] -n
- a staff or baton borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority
- royal or imperial authority : sovereignty
scepter [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to invest with the scepter in token of royal authority
sceptered -adj
- invested with a scepter or sovereign authority
- of or relating to a sovereign or to royalty
scep·tic ['skep-tik] -n
(variant of skeptic)
- an adherent or advocate of skepticism
- a person disposed to skepticism esp. regarding religion or religious principles
scep·tre ['sep-tər] -n
(variant of scepter)
- a staff or baton borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority
- royal or imperial authority : sovereignty
sch -abbr
- school
scha·den·freu·de ['shä-dᵊn-,frȯi-də] -n
- enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others
sched·ule ['ske-(,)jül, -jəl, Canad also 'she-, Brit usu 'she-(,)dyül] -n
- a written document
- a statement of supplementary details appended to a legal or legislative document
- a written or printed list, catalog, or inventory
- timetable
- program
- a procedural plan that indicates the time and sequence of each operation
- a body of items to be dealt with : agenda
- a governmental list of drugs all subject to the same legal restrictions and controls usu. used with a Roman numeral I to V indicating decreasing potential for abuse or addiction
schedule -vt, n
- to appoint, assign, or designate for a fixed time
- to place in a schedule
- to make a schedule of
schee·lite ['shā-,līt] -n
- a mineral consisting of the tungstate of calcium that is an ore of tungsten
schef·flera ['she-flə-rə] -n
- any of a genus ( Schefflera) of chiefly tropical and subtropical shrubs and trees of the ginseng family having usu. palmately compound leaves and including some (as S. actinophyllasyn. Brassaia actinophylla) grown indoors and in gardens
Sche·her·a·zade [shə-,her-ə-'zäd; -'zä-də, -dē] -n
- the fictional wife of a sultan and the narrator of the tales in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments
sche·ma ['skē-mə] -n
- a diagrammatic presentation
- a structured framework or plan : outline
- a mental codification of experience that includes a particular organized way of perceiving cognitively and responding to a complex situation or set of stimuli
sche·mat·ic [ski-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a scheme or schema
schematic -n
- a schematic drawing or diagram
sche·ma·tism ['skē-mə-,ti-zəm] -n
- the disposition of constituents in a pattern or according to a scheme : design
- a particular systematic disposition of parts
sche·ma·tize ['skē-mə-,tīz] -vt, n
- to form or to form into a scheme or systematic arrangement
- to express or depict schematically
scheme ['skēm] -n
- a mathematical or astronomical diagram
- a representation of the astrological aspects of the planets at a particular time
- a graphic sketch or outline
- a concise statement or table : epitome
- a plan or program of action
- a crafty or secret one
- a systematic or organized configuration : design
- to form a scheme for
- to form plans
- plot, intrigue
scheming -adj
- given to forming schemes
- devious
scher·zan·do [skert-'sän-(,)dō] -adv or adj
- in sportive manner : playfully used as a direction in music indicating style and tempo
scherzando -n
- a passage or movement in scherzando style
scher·zo ['skert-(,)sō] -n
- a sprightly humorous instrumental musical composition or movement commonly in quick triple time
Schick test ['shik-] -n
- a test for susceptibility to diphtheria by cutaneous injection of a diluted diphtheria toxin that causes an area of reddening and induration in susceptible individuals
Schiff's reagent ['shifs-] -n
- a solution of fuchsine decolorized by treatment with sulfur dioxide that gives a useful test for aldehydes because they restore the dye's color called also Schiff reagent shif-
schil·ler ['shi-lər] -n
- a bronzy iridescent luster (as of a mineral)
schil·ling ['shi-liŋ] -n
- the basic monetary unit of Austria until 2002
schip·per·ke ['ski-pər-kē, 'shi-, -kə; -pərk] -n
- any of a Belgian breed of small stocky black tailless dogs with foxy head and heavy coat
schism ['si-zəm, 'ski- also 'shi-; among clergy usu 'si-] -n
- division, separation
- discord, disharmony
- a schism between political parties
- formal division in or separation from a church or religious body
- the offense of promoting schism
schis·mat·ic [siz-'ma-tik, ski-] -n
- one who creates or takes part in schism
schismatic [-ti-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or guilty of schism
schis·ma·tize ['siz-mə-,tīz, 'skiz-] -vb
- to take part in schism
- to make a breach of union (as in the church)
- to induce into schism
schist ['shist] -n
- a metamorphic crystalline rock that has a closely foliated structure and can be split along approximately parallel planes
schis·tose ['shis-,tōs] -adj, n
- of or relating to schist : having the character or structure of a schist
schis·to·some ['shis-tə-,sōm] -n, adj
- any of a genus ( Schistosoma) of elongated trematode worms with the sexes separate that parasitize the blood vessels of birds and mammals and cause a destructive human schistosomiasis
- a worm of the family (Schistosomatidae) that includes this genus
schis·to·so·mi·a·sis [,shis-tə-sō-'mī-ə-səs] -n
- infestation with or disease caused by schistosomes
- a severe endemic disease of humans in Africa and parts of Asia and So. America that is contracted when cercariae released into freshwaters (as rivers) by a snail intermediate host penetrate the skin and that is marked esp. by blood loss and tissue damage called also snail fever
schiz- -comb form
- split : cleft
- characterized by or involving cleavage
- schizophrenia
schizo ['skit-(,)sō] -n, adj
- a schizophrenic individual
schizo·carp ['ski-zə-,kärp, 'skit-sə-] -n
- a dry compound fruit that splits at maturity into several indehiscent one-seeded carpels
schi·zog·o·ny [ski-'zä-gə-nē, skit-'sä-] -n, adj
- asexual reproduction by multiple segmentation characteristic of sporozoans (as the malaria parasite)
schiz·oid ['skit-,sȯid] -adj, n
- characterized by, resulting from, tending toward, or suggestive of schizophrenia
schiz·ont ['ski-,zänt, 'skit-,sänt] -n
- a multinucleate sporozoan that reproduces by schizogony
schizo·phrene ['skit-sə-,frēn] -n
- one affected with schizophrenia : schizophrenic
schizo·phre·nia [,skit-sə-'frē-nē-ə] -n, adj or n, adv
- a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as delusions), perception (as hallucinations), and behavior called also dementia praecox
- contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes
- both parties...have exhibited schizophrenia over the desired outcome -- Elizabeth Drew
schizy ['skit-sē] -adj
- schizoid
schle·miel [shlə-'mēl] -n
- an unlucky bungler : chump
schlep ['shlep] -vb
- drag, haul
- to proceed or move esp. slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly
schlie·ren ['shlir-ən] -n pl, adj
- small masses or streaks in an igneous rock that differ in composition from the main body
- regions of varying refraction in a transparent medium often caused by pressure or temperature differences and detectable esp. by photographing the passage of a beam of light
schlock ['shläk] -adj, n
- of low quality or value
schlub ['shləb] -n
- a stupid, worthless, or unattractive person
schlump ['shləmp] -n, adj
- schlub
schm- [shm] -prefix
- used to form a rhyming term of derision by replacing the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a word or by preceding the initial vowel
- fancy, schm ancy, I prefer plain
- Godfather- shm odfather-enough already -- Judith Crist
schmaltz ['shmȯlts, 'shmälts] -n, adj
- sentimental or florid music or art
- sentimentality
schmear ['shmir] -n
- an aggregate of related things
Schmidt camera ['shmit-] -n
- a photographic telescope with specialized optics that correct for spherical aberration and coma called also Schmidt telescope
schmo ['shmō] -n
- jerk
schmooze ['shmüz] -vb, n
- to converse informally : chat
- to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner esp. so as to gain favor, business, or connections
- to engage in schmoozing with
- she schmoozed her professors
- a gathering or time devoted to schmoozing
- casual talk that is often gossipy or ingratiating
schmoozy ['shmü-zē] -adj
- of, relating to, characterized by, or given to schmoozing
schmuck ['shmək] -n
- jerk
schnapps ['shnaps] -n
- any of various liquors of high alcoholic content
- strong Holland gin
schnau·zer ['shnau̇-zər, 'shnau̇t-sər] -n
- : a dog of any of three breeds that originated in Germany and are characterized by a wiry coat, long head, pointed ears, heavy eyebrows, and long hair on the muzzle:
- standard schnauzer
- giant schnauzer
- miniature schnauzer
schnit·zel ['shnit-səl] -n
- a seasoned and garnished veal cutlet
schnook ['shnu̇k] -n
- a stupid or unimportant person : dolt
schnor·rer ['shnȯr-ər] -n
- beggar
- one who wheedles others into supplying his wants
schnoz ['shnäz] -n
- nose
- a large nose
schnoz·zle ['shnä-zəl] -n
- schnoz
scho·la can·to·rum [,skō-lə-kan-'tȯr-əm] -n
- a singing school esp. for church choristers
- the choir or choir school of a monastery or of a cathedral
- an enclosure designed for a choir and located in the center of the nave in early church buildings
schol·ar ['skä-lər] -n
- a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher : pupil
- a person who has done advanced study in a special field
- a learned person
- a holder of a scholarship
schol·ar·ly [-lē] -adj
- of, characteristic of, or suitable to learned persons : learned, academic
schol·ar·ship [-,ship] -n
- a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation)
- the character, qualities, activity, or attainments of a scholar : learning
- a fund of knowledge and learning
- drawing on the scholarship of the ancients
Scholarship level -n
- s level
scho·las·tic [skə-'las-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to Scholasticism
- suggestive or characteristic of a scholastic esp. in subtlety or aridity : pedantic
- of or relating to schools or scholars
- of or relating to high school or secondary school
scholastic -n
- a Scholastic philosopher
- pedant, formalist
- a student in a scholasticate
- a person who adopts academic or traditional methods in art
scho·las·ti·cate [skə-'las-tə-,kāt, -ti-kət] -n
- a college-level school of general study for those preparing for membership in a Roman Catholic religious order
scho·las·ti·cism [skə-'las-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- a philosophical movement dominant in western Christian civilization from the 9th until the 17th century and combining religious dogma with the mystical and intuitional tradition of patristic philosophy esp. of St. Augustine and later with Aristotelianism
- neo-scholasticism
- close adherence to the traditional teachings or methods of a school or sect
- pedantic adherence to scholarly methods
scho·li·ast ['skō-lē-,ast, -lē-əst] -n, adj
- a maker of scholia : commentator, annotator
scho·li·um ['skō-lē-əm] -n
- a marginal annotation or comment (as on the text of a classic by an early grammarian)
- a remark or observation subjoined but not essential to a demonstration or a train of reasoning
school ['skül] -n
- : an organization that provides instruction: as
- an institution for the teaching of children
- college, university
- a group of scholars and teachers pursuing knowledge together that with similar groups constituted a medieval university
- one of the four faculties of a medieval university
- an institution for specialized higher education often associated with a university
- the school of engineering
- an establishment offering specialized instruction
- the process of teaching or learning esp. at a school
- attendance at a school
- a session of a school
- a school building
- the students attending a school
- its teachers and students
- a source of knowledge
- experience was his school
- a group of persons who hold a common doctrine or follow the same teacher (as in philosophy, theology, or medicine)
- the doctrine or practice of such a group
- a group of artists under a common influence
- a group of persons of similar opinions or behavior
- the shared opinions or behavior of such a group
- other school s of thought
- the regulations governing military drill of individuals or units
- the exercises carried out
- the school of the soldier
- to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill
- well school ed in languages
- to discipline or habituate to something
- school oneself in patience
- to educate in an institution of learning
- a large number of fish or aquatic animals of one kind swimming together
- to swim or feed in a school
schoolage -adj
- old enough to go to school
school·bag ['skül-,bag] -n
- a bag for carrying schoolbooks and school supplies
school board -n
- a board in charge of local public schools
school·book [-,bu̇k] -n
- a school textbook
school·boy [-,bȯi] -n
- a boy attending school
schoolboy -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a schoolboy
- of, relating to, or being a sport for high school or prep school boys
- being one who participates in such sports
- a former schoolboy and collegiate goalie -- D. J. Barr
school·boy·ish [-,bȯi-ish] -adj
- schoolboy
school bus -n
- a vehicle used for transporting children to or from school or on activities connected with school
school·child ['skül-,chī(-ə)ld] -n
- a child attending school
school committee -n
- school board
school district -n
- a unit for administration of a public-school system often comprising several towns within a state
school·fel·low ['skül-,fe-(,)lō] -n
- schoolmate
school·girl [-,gər(-ə)l] -n
- a girl attending school
school·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- a building used as a school and esp. as an elementary school
school·ing -n
- instruction in school : education
- training, guidance, or discipline derived from experience
- reproof
- the cost of instruction and maintenance at school
- the training of a horse for service
- the teaching and exercising of horse and rider in the formal techniques of equitation
school·kid ['skül-,kid] -n
- a child or teenager attending school
schoolleav·er ['skül-,lē-vər] -n
- one who has left school usu. after completing a course of study
school·man ['skül-mən, -,man] -n
- one skilled in academic disputation
- scholastic
- educator
- educator
school·marm [-,mä(r)m] -n, adj
- a woman who is a schoolteacher esp. in a rural or small-town school
- a person who exhibits characteristics attributed to schoolteachers (as strict adherence to arbitrary rules)
school·mas·ter [-,mas-tər] -n, adj
- a man who teaches school
- one that disciplines or directs
- a reddish-brown edible snapper ( Lutjanus apodus) of the tropical Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico
school·mate [-,māt] -n
- a companion at school
school·mis·tress [-,mis-trəs] -n, adj
- a woman who teaches school
school·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- classroom
school·teach·er [-,tē-chər] -n
- one who teaches school
school·time [-,tīm] -n
- the time for beginning a session of school or during which school is held
- the period of life spent in school or in study
school·work [-,wərk] -n
- lessons done in class or assigned to be done at home
schoo·ner ['skü-nər] -n
- a typically 2-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel with a foremast and a mainmast stepped nearly amidships
- a larger-than-usual drinking glass (as for beer)
schooner rig ['skü-nə(r)-'rigd] -n, adj
- fore-and-aft rig
schorl ['shȯr(-ə)l] -n
- tourmaline
- tourmaline of the black variety
schot·tische ['shä-tish, shä-'tēsh] -n
- a round dance resembling a slow polka
- music for the schottische
schrod ['skräd] -n
(variant of scrod)
- a young fish (as a cod or haddock)
- one split and boned for cooking
Schro·ding·er equation ['shrā-diŋ-ər, 'shrœ-, 'shrə(r)-] -n
- an equation that describes the wave nature of elementary particles and is fundamental to the description of the properties of all matter
schtick ['shtik] -n, adj
(variant of shtick)
- a usu. comic or repetitious performance or routine : bit
- one's special trait, interest, or activity : bag
- he's alive and well and now doing his shtick out in Hollywood -- Robert Daley
schuss ['shu̇s, 'shüs] -vi, n
- to ski directly down a slope at high speed
schuss·boom·er [-,bü-mər] -n
- a skier who schusses
schwa ['shwä] -n
- an unstressed mid-central vowel (as the usual sound of the first and last vowels of the English word America)
- the symbol used for the schwa sound and less widely for a similarly articulated stressed vowel (as in cut)
Schwann cell ['shwän-] -n
- the myelin-secreting cell surrounding a myelinated nerve fiber between two nodes of Ranvier
schwar·me·rei [,shver-mə-'rī] -n
- excessive or unwholesome sentiment
sci -abbr
- science; scientific
sci·at·ic [sī-'a-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or situated near the hip
- of, relating to, or caused by sciatica
sci·at·i·ca [sī-'a-ti-kə] -n
- pain along the course of a sciatic nerve esp. in the back of the thigh
- pain in the lower back, buttocks, hips, or adjacent parts
sciatic nerve -n
- either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the nerve plexus supplying the posterior limb and pelvic region and that pass out of the pelvis and down the back of the thigh
SCID -abbr
- severe combined immune deficiency; severe combined immunodeficiency
sci·ence ['sī-ən(t)s] -n
- the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding
- a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study
- something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge
- have it down to a science
- knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method
- such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena : natural science
- a system or method reconciling practical ends with scientific laws
- cooking is both a science and an art
- christian science
science fair -n
- a competitive exhibition of science projects usu. carried out by schoolchildren
science fiction ['sī-ən(t)s-'fik-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -n, adj
- fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component
sci·en·tial [sī-'en(t)-shəl] -adj
- relating to or producing knowledge or science
- having efficient knowledge : capable
sci·en·tif·ic [,sī-ən-'ti-fik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or exhibiting the methods or principles of science
scientific creationism -n
- a doctrine holding that the biblical account of creation is supported by scientific evidence
scientific method -n
- principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses
scientific notation -n
- a widely used floating-point system in which numbers are expressed as products consisting of a number between 1 and 10 multiplied by an appropriate power of 10 (as in 1.591 (10) 20or 1.591 10 20)
sci·en·tism ['sī-ən-,ti-zəm] -n, adj
- methods and attitudes typical of or attributed to the natural scientist
- an exaggerated trust in the efficacy of the methods of natural science applied to all areas of investigation (as in philosophy, the social sciences, and the humanities)
sci·en·tist ['sī-ən-tist] -n
- a person learned in science and esp. natural science : a scientific investigator
- christian scientist
sci·en·tize ['sī-ən-,tīz] -vt
- to treat with a scientific approach
- the attempt to scientize reality, to name it and classify it -- John Fowles
scifi ['sī-'fī] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being science fiction
sci·li·cet ['skē-li-,ket; 'sī-lə-,set, 'si-] -adv
- to wit, namely
scil·la ['si-lə, 'ski-] -n
- any of a genus ( Scilla) of Old World bulbous herbs of the lily family with narrow basal leaves and purple, blue, or white racemose flowers
scim·i·tar ['si-mə-tər, -,tär] -n
- a saber having a curved blade with the edge on the convex side and used chiefly by Arabs and Turks
scin·tig·ra·phy [sin-'ti-grə-fē] -n, adj
- a diagnostic technique in which a two-dimensional picture of internal body tissue is produced through the detection of radiation emitted by a radioactive substance administered into the body
scin·til·la [sin-'ti-lə] -n
- spark, trace
scin·til·lant ['sin-tə-lənt] -adj, adv
- that scintillates : sparkling
scin·til·late ['sin-tə-,lāt] -vb, n
- to emit sparks : spark
- to emit quick flashes as if throwing off sparks : sparkle
- stars scintillate in the sky
- to throw off as a spark or as sparkling flashes
scintillating -adj
- brilliantly lively, stimulating, or witty
- a scintillating conversation
scin·til·la·tion [,sin-tə-'lā-shən] -n
- an act or instance of scintillating
- rapid changes in the brightness of a celestial body
- a spark or flash emitted in scintillating
- a flash of light produced in a phosphor by an ionizing event
- a brilliant outburst (as of wit)
- a flash of the eye
scintillation counter -n
- a device for detecting and registering individual scintillations (as in radioactive emission)
scin·til·lom·e·ter [,sin-tə-'lä-mə-tər] -n
- scintillation counter
sci·o·lism ['sī-ə-,li-zəm] -n, adj
- a superficial show of learning
sci·on ['sī-ən] -n
- a detached living portion of a plant (as a bud or shoot) joined to a stock in grafting and usu. supplying solely aerial parts to a graft
- descendant, child
- a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential family
- heir
- scion of a railroad empire
sci·re fa·cias [,sī-rē-'fā-sh(ē-)əs] -n
- a judicial writ founded on some matter of record and requiring the party proceeded against to show cause why the record should not be enforced, annulled, or vacated
- a legal proceeding instituted by a scire facias
scirocco [shə-'rä-(,)kō, sə-] -n
(variant of sirocco)
- a hot dust-laden wind from the Libyan deserts that blows on the northern Mediterranean coast chiefly in Italy, Malta, and Sicily
- a warm moist oppressive southeast wind in the same regions
- a hot or warm wind of cyclonic origin from an arid or heated region
scir·rhous ['sir-əs, 'skir-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a hard slow-growing malignant tumor having a preponderance of fibrous tissue
scis·sile ['si-səl, -,sī(-ə)l] -adj
- capable of being cut smoothly or split easily
scis·sion ['si-zhən] -n
- a division or split in a group or union : schism
- an action or process of cutting, dividing, or splitting : the state of being cut, divided, or split
scis·sor ['si-zər] -n
- scissors
scissor ['si-zə-riŋ, 'siz-riŋ] -vt
- to cut, cut up, or cut off with scissors or shears
- scissor ed the paper into strips
scis·sors ['si-zərz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a cutting instrument having two blades whose cutting edges slide past each other
- a gymnastic feat in which the leg movements suggest the opening and closing of scissors
- scissors hold
scissorsandpaste -adj
- being a compilation rather than an effort of original and independent investigation
scissors hold -n
- a wrestling hold in which the legs are locked around the head or body of an opponent
scissors kick -n
- a swimming kick used esp. in sidestrokes in which the legs move like scissors
scis·sortailed flycatcher ['si-zər-,tāld-] -n
- a flycatcher ( Tyrannus forficatus) of the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America that has a long deeply forked tail called also scissortail
sclaff ['sklaf] -vi, n
- to scrape the ground instead of hitting the ball cleanly on a golf stroke
SCLC -abbr
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
scler- -comb form
- hard
- hardness
sclera ['skler-ə] -n, adj
- the dense fibrous opaque white outer coat enclosing the eyeball except the part covered by the cornea
scler·e·id ['skler-ē-əd] -n
- a variably shaped sclerenchymatous cell of a higher plant
scle·ren·chy·ma [sklə-'reŋ-kə-mə] -n, adj
- a protective or supporting tissue in higher plants composed of cells with walls thickened and often lignified
scler·ite ['skler-,īt] -n
- a hard chitinous or calcareous plate, piece, or spicule (as of the arthropod integument)
sclero·der·ma [,skler-ə-'dər-mə] -n
- a usu. slowly progressive disease marked by the deposition of fibrous connective tissue in the skin and often in internal organs and structures
scle·rom·e·ter [sklə-'rä-mə-tər] -n
- an instrument for determining the relative hardnesses of materials
sclero·pro·tein [,skler-ō-'prō-,tēn, -'prō-tē-ən] -n
- any of various fibrous proteins esp. from connective and skeletal tissues
scle·ros·ing [sklə-'rō-siŋ, -ziŋ] -adj
- causing or characterized by sclerosis
scle·ro·sis [sklə-'rō-səs] -n
- pathological hardening of tissue esp. from overgrowth of fibrous tissue or increase in interstitial tissue
- a disease characterized by sclerosis
- an inability or reluctance to adapt or compromise
sclero·ther·a·py [,skler-ō-'ther-ə-pē] -n
- the injection of a sclerosing agent (as saline) into a varicose vein to produce inflammation and scarring which closes the lumen and is followed by shrinkage
scle·rot·ic [sklə-'rä-tik] -adj
- being or relating to the sclera
- of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis
sclerotic -n
- sclera
sclerotic coat -n
- sclera
scler·o·tin ['skler-ə-tən, sklə-'rō-tᵊn] -n
- an insoluble tanned protein permeating and stiffening the chitin of the cuticle of arthropods
scle·ro·tium [sklə-'rō-sh(ē-)əm] -n, adj
- a compact mass of hardened mycelium stored with reserve food material that in some higher fungi becomes detached and remains dormant until a favorable opportunity for growth occurs
scler·o·tized ['skler-ə-,tīzd] -adj, n
- hardened esp. by the formation of sclerotin
- sclerotized insect cuticle
scoff ['skäf, 'skȯf] -n
- an expression of scorn, derision, or contempt : gibe
- an object of scorn, mockery, or derision
- to show contempt by derisive acts or language
- to treat or address with derision : mock
- to eat greedily
- seize often used with up
- scoff ed up the free gifts
- to eat something greedily
scoff·law [-,lȯ] -n
- a contemptuous law violator
scold ['skōld] -n
- one who scolds habitually or persistently
- a woman who disturbs the public peace by noisy and quarrelsome or abusive behavior
- scolding
- to quarrel noisily
- to find fault noisily or angrily
- to censure severely or angrily : rebuke
scold·ing ['skōl-diŋ] -n
- the action of one who scolds
- a harsh reproof
- gave the child a sharp scolding for running into the road
sco·le·cite ['skä-lə-,sīt, 'skō-] -n
- a usu. fibrous zeolite mineral that is a hydrous calcium aluminum silicate
sco·lex ['skō-,leks] -n
- the head of a tapeworm either in the larva or adult stage
sco·li·o·sis [,skō-lē-'ō-səs] -n, adj
- a lateral curvature of the spine
scollop ['skä-ləp, 'ska-, 'skȯ-] -n
(variant of scallop)
- any of numerous marine bivalve lamellibranch mollusks (family Pectinidae) that have a radially ribbed shell with the edge undulated and that swim by opening and closing the valves
- the adductor muscle of a scallop as an article of food
- a valve or shell of a scallop
- a baking dish shaped like a valve of a scallop
- one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border (as on cloth or metal)
- pattypan
- a thin slice of boneless meat or fish called also escalope
scol·o·pen·dra ['skä-lə-'pen-drə] -n
- centipede
scom·broid ['skäm-,brȯid] -n, adj
- any of a suborder (Scombroidei) of marine bony fishes (as mackerels, tunas, albacores, bonitos, and swordfishes) of great economic importance as food fishes
sconce ['skän(t)s] -n
- a bracket candlestick or group of candlesticks
- an electric light fixture patterned on a candle sconce
- head, skull
- a detached defensive work
scone ['skōn, 'skän] -n
- a rich quick bread cut into usu. triangular shapes and cooked on a griddle or baked on a sheet
scoop ['sküp] -n
- a large ladle
- a deep shovel or similar implement for digging, dipping, or shoveling
- a usu. hemispherical utensil for dipping food
- a small spoon-shaped utensil or instrument for cutting or gouging
- the action of scooping
- the amount contained by a scoop
- a hollow place : cavity
- a part forming or surrounding an opening for channeling a fluid (as air) into a desired path
- information esp. of immediate interest
- beat
- a rounded and usu. low-cut neckline on a woman's garment called also scoop neck
- to take out or up with or as if with a scoop : dip
- to pick up quickly or surreptitiously with or as if with a sweep of the hand often used with up
- to empty by ladling out the contents
- to make hollow : dig out
- beat
- scoop ed the rival newspaper
scoot ['sküt] -vi, n
- to move swiftly
- to slide esp. while seated
- scoot over and let me sit down
scoot·er ['skü-tər] -n
- a child's foot-operated vehicle consisting of a narrow footboard mounted between two wheels tandem with an upright steering handle attached to the front wheel
- motor scooter
scop ['shōp, 'skōp, 'skäp] -n
- an Old English bard or poet
scope ['skōp] -n
- intention, object
- space or opportunity for unhampered motion, activity, or thought
- extent of treatment, activity, or influence
- : range of operation: as
- the range of a logical operator : a string in predicate calculus that is governed by a quantifier
- a grammatical constituent that determines the interpretation of a predicate or quantifier
- : any of various instruments for viewing: as
- microscope
- telescope
- a telescope mounted on a firearm for use as a sight
- horoscope
- to look at esp. for the purpose of evaluation often used with out
- scoped her out from across the room -- Tim Allis
sco·pol·amine [skō-'pä-lə-,mēn, -mən] -n
- a poisonous alkaloid C 17H 21NO 4similar to atropine that is found in various solanaceous plants and is used for its anticholinergic effects (as preventing nausea in motion sickness and inducing mydriasis) called also hyoscine
scor·bu·tic [skȯr-'byü-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, producing, or affected with scurvy
scorch ['skȯrch] -vb, adv
- to burn a surface of so as to change its color and texture
- to dry or shrivel with or as if with intense heat : parch
- to afflict painfully with censure or sarcasm
- devastate
- to destroy (as property of possible use to an advancing enemy) before abandoning used in the phrase scorched earth
- to become scorched
- to travel at great and usu. excessive speed
- to cause intense heat or mental anguish
- a result of scorching
- a browning of plant tissues usu. from disease or heat
- cut, slash
scorched -adj
- parched or discolored by scorching
scorchedearth ['skȯrcht-'ərth] -adj
- relating to or being a military policy involving deliberate and usu. widespread destruction of property and resources (as housing and factories) so that an invading enemy cannot use them
- directed toward victory or supremacy at all costs : ruthless
scorch·er ['skȯr-chər] -n
- one that scorches
- a very hot day
score ['skȯr] -n
- twenty
- a group of 20 things often used in combination with a cardinal number
- an indefinitely large number
- a line (as a scratch or incision) made with or as if with a sharp instrument
- a mark used as a starting point or goal
- a mark used for keeping account
- an account or reckoning orig. kept by making marks on a tally
- amount due : indebtedness
- grudge
- reason, ground
- was accepted on the score of high academic achievement
- subject, topic
- has nothing to say on that score
- the copy of a musical composition in written or printed notation
- a musical composition
- the music for a movie or theatrical production
- a complete description of a dance composition in choreographic notation
- a number that expresses accomplishment (as in a game or test) or excellence (as in quality) either absolutely in points gained or by comparison to a standard
- an act (as a goal, run, or touchdown) in any of various games or contests that gains points
- success in obtaining something (as money or drugs) esp. through illegal or irregular means
- the stark inescapable facts of a situation
- to keep a record or account of by or as if by notches on a tally : record
- to enter in a record
- to mark with significant lines or notches (as in keeping account)
- to mark with lines, grooves, scratches, or notches
- berate, scold
- denounce
- to make (a score) in a game or contest
- to enable (a base runner) to make a score
- to have as a value in a game or contest : count
- a touchdown score s six points
- achieve, attain
- scored a dazzling success
- acquire
- help a traveler score local drugs -- Poitor Koper
- win
- scored free tickets over the radio
- to determine the merit of : grade
- to write or arrange (music) for a specific performance medium
- to make an orchestration of
- to compose a score for (a movie)
- to keep score in a game or contest
- to make a score in a game or contest
- to gain or have the advantage
- : to be successful: as
- to succeed in having sexual intercourse
- to manage to obtain illicit drugs
- rate
score·board ['skȯr-,bȯrd] -n
- a large board for displaying the score of a game or match
score·card [-,kärd] -n
- a card for recording the score of a game
- a report or indication of the status, condition, or success of something or someone
score·keep·er [-,kē-pər] -n
- one that keeps score
- an official who records the score during a game or contest
score·less [-ləs] -adj
- having no score
sco·ria ['skȯr-ē-ə] -n, adj
- the refuse from melting of metals or reduction of ores : slag
- rough vesicular cindery lava
scorn ['skȯrn] -n
- open dislike and disrespect or derision often mixed with indignation
- an expression of contempt or derision
- an object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision : something contemptible
- to treat with scorn : reject or dismiss as contemptible or unworthy
- scorn ed local traditions
- scorn ed to reply to the charge
- to show disdain or derision : scoff
scorn·ful ['skȯrn-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- full of scorn : contemptuous
scor·pae·nid [skȯr-'pē-nəd] -n, adj
- any of a family (Scorpaenidae) of marine bony fishes possessing usu. venomous spines on the fins that includes the scorpion fishes, lionfishes, and rockfishes
Scor·pio ['skȯr-pē-,ō] -n
- scorpius
- the eighth sign of the zodiac in astrology
- one born under this sign
scor·pi·on ['skȯr-pē-ən] -n
- any of an order (Scorpionida) of nocturnal arachnids that have an elongated body and a narrow segmented tail bearing a venomous stinger at the tip
- scorpio
- a scourge prob. studded with metal
- something that incites to action like the sting of an insect
- the scorpion s of absolute necessity -- Arnold Bennett
scorpion fish -n
- any of various scorpaenid fishes (esp. genus Scorpaena)
scorpion fly -n
- any of a family (Panorpidae) of insects that have cylindrical bodies, a long beak with biting mouthparts, and the male genitalia enlarged into a swollen bulb
- an insect of the order (Mecoptera) that includes this family
Scor·pi·us ['skȯr-pē-əs] -n
- a southern zodiacal constellation partly in the Milky Way and between Libra and Sagittarius
scot ['skät] -n
- money assessed or paid
Scot ['skät] -n
- a member of a Celtic people of northern Ireland settling in Scotland about a.d.500
- a native or inhabitant of Scotland
- a person of Scottish descent
scot and lot -n
- a parish assessment formerly laid on subjects in Great Britain according to their ability to pay
- obligations of all kinds taken as a whole
scotch ['skäch] -vt
- cut, gash, score
- wound
- we have scotch ed the snake, not killed it -- Shak.
- to put an end to
- scotch ed rumors of a military takeover
- a superficial cut : score
- a chock to prevent rolling or slipping
- to block with a chock
- hinder, thwart
Scotch ['skäch] -adj
- scottish
- inclined to frugality
- scots
- the people of Scotland
- whiskey distilled in Scotland esp. from malted barley called also Scotch whisky
- used for adhesive tape
Scotch bonnet -n
- a small roundish very hot chili pepper esp. of the Caribbean that is usu. red or yellow when mature
Scotch broom -n
- a deciduous broom ( Cytisus scoparius) of western Europe that is widely cultivated for its bright yellow or partly red flowers and that has become naturalized in No. America
Scotch broth -n
- a soup made from beef or mutton and vegetables and thickened with barley
Scotch egg -n
- a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, covered with bread crumbs, and fried
ScotchIrish -adj
- of, relating to, or descended from Scottish settlers in northern Ireland
Scotch·man ['skäch-mən] -n
- scotsman
Scotch pine -n
- a pine ( Pinus sylvestris) of northern Europe and Asia with spreading or pendulous branches, short rigid twisted needles, and hard yellow wood that provides valuable timber
Scotch terrier -n
- scottish terrier
Scotch verdict -n
- a verdict of not proven that is allowed by Scottish criminal law in some cases instead of a verdict of not guilty
- an inconclusive decision or pronouncement
Scotch·wom·an ['skäch-,wu̇-mən] -n
- scotswoman
Scotch woodcock -n
- buttered toast spread with anchovy paste and scrambled egg
sco·ter ['skō-tər] -n
- any of a genus ( Melanitta) of sea ducks of chiefly coastal Eurasia, Canada, and the U.S. that have males with chiefly black plumage
scotfree ['skät-'frē] -adj
- completely free from obligation, harm, or penalty
sco·tia ['skō-sh(ē-)ə, -tē-ə] -n
- a concave molding used esp. in classical architecture in the bases of columns
Scot·ic ['skä-tik] -adj
- of or relating to the ancient Scots
Sco·tism ['skō-,ti-zəm] -n
- the doctrines of Duns Scotus
Scot·land Yard [,skät-lən(d)-'yärd] -n
- the detective department of the London metropolitan police
sco·to·ma [skə-'tō-mə] -n
- a spot in the visual field in which vision is absent or deficient
sco·to·pic [skə-'tō-pik, -'tä-] -adj
- relating to or being vision in dim light with dark-adapted eyes which involves only the retinal rods as light receptors
Scots ['skäts] -adj
- scottish used esp. of the people and language and in legal context
- the English language of Scotland
ScotsIrish -adj
- scotch-irish
Scots·man ['skäts-mən] -n
- a native or inhabitant of Scotland
Scots pine -n
- scotch pine
Scots·wom·an ['skäts-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who is a native or inhabitant of Scotland
Scot·ti·cism ['skä-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- a word, phrase, or expression characteristic of Scottish English
Scot·tie ['skä-tē] -n
- scotsman
- scottish terrier
Scot·tish ['skä-tish] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, Scots, or the Scots
Scottish -n
- scots
Scottish deerhound -n
- any of an old breed of dogs of Scottish origin that have the general form of a greyhound but are larger and taller with a shaggy harsh coat
Scottish Gaelic -n
- the Gaelic language of Scotland
Scottish rite -n
- a ceremonial observed by one of the Masonic systems
- a system or organization that observes the Scottish rite and confers the 4th through the 33d degrees
Scottish terrier -n
- any of an old Scottish breed of terrier that has short legs, a long head with small erect ears and a powerful muzzle, a broad deep chest, and a very hard coat of wiry hair
scoun·drel ['skau̇n-drəl] -n, adj
- a disreputable person : rascal
scour ['skau̇(-ə)r] -vb, n
- to rub hard esp. with a rough material for cleansing
- to remove by rubbing hard and washing
- to clear (a region) of enemies or outlaws
- to clean by purging : purge
- to remove dirt and debris from (as a pipe or ditch)
- to free from foreign matter or impurities by or as if by washing
- to clear, dig, or remove by or as if by a powerful current of water
- to perform a process of scouring
- to suffer from diarrhea or dysentery
- to become clean and bright by rubbing
- a place scoured by running water
- scouring action (as of a glacier)
- diarrhea, dysentery usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
- scouring
- damage done by scouring action
- to move about quickly esp. in search
- to go through or range over in or as if in a search
scourge ['skərj also 'skōrj, 'skȯrj, 'sku̇rj] -n
- whip
- one used to inflict pain or punishment
- an instrument of punishment or criticism
- a cause of wide or great affliction
- flog, whip
- to punish severely
- afflict
- to drive as if by blows of a whip
- chastise
scour·ing ['skau̇(-ə)r-iŋ] -n
- material removed by scouring or cleaning
- the lowest rank of society usu. used in pl.
scouring rush -n
- horsetail
- one ( Equisetum hyemale) with strongly siliceous stems formerly used for scouring
scouse ['skau̇s] -n
- lobscouse
- scouser
- a dialect of English spoken in Liverpool
Scous·er ['skau̇-sər] -n
- a native or inhabitant of Liverpool, England
scout ['skau̇t] -vb
- to explore an area to obtain information (as about an enemy)
- to make a search
- to work as a talent scout
- to observe in order to obtain information or evaluate
- to explore in order to obtain information
- to find by making a search
- one sent to obtain information
- a soldier, ship, or plane sent out in war to reconnoiter
- watchman, lookout
- talent scout
- the act of scouting
- a scouting expedition : reconnaissance
- : a member of any of various scouting movements: as
- boy scout
- girl scout
- individual, person used chiefly in the phrase good scout
- mock
- to reject scornfully
- scout ed his explanation as a shabby falsehood -- Mark Twain
- scoff
scout car -n
- a military reconnaissance vehicle
- squad car
scout·craft ['skau̇t-,kraft] -n
- the craft, skill, or practice of a scout
scout·er ['skau̇-tər] -n
- one that scouts
- an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America
scouth ['sküth, 'skau̇th] -n
- plenty
scout·ing ['skau̇-tiŋ] -n
- the action of one that scouts
- the activities of various national and worldwide organizations for youth directed to developing character, citizenship, and individual skills
scout·mas·ter ['skau̇t-,mas-tər] -n
- the leader of a band of scouts
- the adult leader of a troop of Boy Scouts
scow ['skau̇] -n
- a large flat-bottomed boat with broad square ends used chiefly for transporting bulk material (as ore, sand, or refuse)
scowl ['skau̇(-ə)l] -vb, n, adv
- to contract the brow in an expression of displeasure
- to exhibit a threatening aspect
- to express with a scowl
- a facial expression of displeasure : frown
SCPO -abbr
- senior chief petty officer
scrab·ble ['skra-bəl] -vb, n
- scrawl, scribble
- to scratch, claw, or grope about clumsily or frantically
- scramble, clamber
- to struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching
- scramble
- scribble
scrabble -n
- scramble
- scribble
- a repeated scratching or clawing
scrab·bly ['skra-b(ə-)lē] -adj
- scratchy, raspy
- sparse, scrubby
scrag ['skrag] -n
- a rawboned or scrawny person or animal
- the lean end of a neck of mutton or veal called also scrag end
- neck
- to execute by hanging or garroting
- to wring the neck of
- choke
- manhandle
- kill, murder
scrag·gly ['skra-g(ə-)lē] -adj
- irregular in form or growth
- unkempt
scrag·gy ['skra-gē] -adj
- rough, jagged
- scraggly
scraggy -adj
- being lean and long : scrawny
scram ['skram] -vi
- to go away at once
- a rapid emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor
scram·ble ['skram-bəl] -vb, n
- to move with urgency or panic
- to move or climb hastily on all fours
- to struggle eagerly or unceremoniously for possession of something
- to get or gather something with difficulty or in irregular ways
- to spread or grow irregularly : sprawl, straggle
- to take off quickly in response to an alert
- to run with the ball after the pass protection breaks down
- to collect by scrambling
- to toss or mix together : jumble
- to prepare (eggs) by stirring during frying
- to cause or order (a fighter-interceptor group) to scramble
- to disarrange the elements of a transmission (as a telephone or television signal) in order to make unintelligible to interception
scramble -n
- the act or an instance of scrambling
- a disordered mass : jumble
- a...scramble of patterns and textures -- Vogue
- a rapid emergency takeoff of fighter-interceptor planes
scran·nel ['skra-nᵊl] -adj
- harsh, unmelodious
scrap ['skrap] -n
- fragments of discarded or leftover food
- a small detached piece
- a fragment of something written, printed, or spoken
- the least bit
- cracklings
- fragments of stock removed in manufacturing
- manufactured articles or parts rejected or discarded and useful only as material for reprocessing
- waste and discarded metal
- to convert into scrap
- to abandon or get rid of as no longer of enough worth or effectiveness to retain
- fight
- quarrel, fight
scrap·book ['skrap-,bu̇k] -n
- a blank book in which various items (as newspaper clippings or pictures) are collected and preserved
scrape ['skrāp] -vb, n
- to remove from a surface by usu. repeated strokes of an edged instrument
- to make (a surface) smooth or clean with strokes of an edged instrument or an abrasive
- to grate harshly over or against
- to damage or injure the surface of by contact with a rough surface
- to draw roughly or noisily over a surface
- to collect by or as if by scraping often used with up or together
- scrape up the price of a ticket
- to move in sliding contact with a rough surface
- to accumulate money by small economies
- to draw back the foot along the ground in making a bow
- to make one's way with difficulty : barely manage or succeed
- just scraped through at school
- working two jobs and barely scraping by
- the act or process of scraping
- a sound made by scraping
- a mark or injury caused by scraping : abrasion
- the nest of a bird consisting of a usu. shallow depression in the ground
- a cleared area on the forest floor made by a male deer during breeding season to attract a doe
- a bow made with a drawing back of the foot along the ground
- a distressing encounter
- altercation, fight
scrap heap -n
- a pile of discarded metal
- the place where useless things are discarded
scra·pie ['skrā-pē] -n
- a usu. fatal prion disease of sheep and goats characterized by twitching, excitability, intense itching, excessive thirst, emaciation, weakness, and finally paralysis
scrap·page ['skra-pij] -n
- the scrapping of discarded objects (as automobiles)
- the rate at which objects are scrapped
scrap·per ['skra-pər] -n
- fighter, quarreler
- a fierce competitor
scrap·pi·ly ['skra-pə-lē] -adv
- in a scrappy manner
scrap·pi·ness ['skra-pē-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being scrappy
scrap·ple ['skra-pəl] -n
- a seasoned mixture of ground meat (as pork) and cornmeal set in a mold and served sliced and fried
scrap·py ['skra-pē] -adj
- consisting of scraps
scrappy -adj
- quarrelsome
- having an aggressive and determined spirit : feisty
scratch ['skrach] -vb, n
- to scrape or dig with the claws or nails
- to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged
- to scrape or rub lightly (as to relieve itching)
- to act on (a desire) used with itch
- scratch the itch to travel
- to scrape together : collect with difficulty or by effort
- to write or draw on a surface
- to cancel or erase by or as if by drawing a line through
- to withdraw (an entry) from competition
- scribble, scrawl
- to scrape along a rough surface
- to use the claws or nails in digging, tearing, or wounding
- to scrape or rub oneself lightly (as to relieve itching)
- to gather money or make a living by hard work and esp. through irregular means and sacrifice
- had to scratch and save for college
- to make a thin grating sound
- to produce a rhythmic scratching sound by moving a phonograph record back and forth under a phonograph needle
- to withdraw from a contest or engagement
- to make a scratch in billiards or pool
- a mark or injury produced by scratching
- a slight wound
- scrawl, scribble
- the sound made by scratching
- the starting line in a race
- a test of courage
- satisfactory condition, level, or performance
- a contestant whose name is withdrawn
- poultry feed (as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground esp. to induce birds to exercise called also scratch feed
- a shot in billiards or pool that ends a player's turn
- a shot in pool in which the cue ball falls into the pocket
- a shot that scores by chance : fluke
- money, funds
- arranged or put together with little selection : haphazard
- made as or used for a tentative effort
- made or done by chance and not as intended
- having no handicap or allowance
- made from scratch : made with basic ingredients
scratch·board ['skrach-,bȯrd] -n
- a black-surfaced cardboard having an undercoat of white clay on which an effect resembling engraving is achieved by scratching away portions of the surface to produce white lines
scratch hit -n
- a batted ball not solidly hit yet credited to the batter as a base hit
scratch pad -n
- a pad of scratch paper
scratch paper -n
- paper that may be used for casual writing
scratch sheet -n
- a racing publication listing competitors scratched from races and giving odds
scratch test -n
- a test for allergic susceptibility made by rubbing an extract of an allergen into small breaks or scratches in the skin
scratchy ['skra-chē] -adj, adv, n
- marked or made with scratches
- likely to scratch : prickly
- making a scratching noise
- uneven in quality : ragged
- causing tingling or itching : irritating
- somewhat inflamed and sore
scrawl ['skrȯl] -vb, n, adj
- to write or draw awkwardly, hastily, or carelessly
- to write awkwardly or carelessly
scraw·ny ['skrȯ-nē] -adj, n
- exceptionally thin and slight or meager in body or size
screak ['skrēk] -vi, n, adj
- to make a harsh shrill noise : screech
scream ['skrēm] -vb
- to voice a sudden sharp loud cry
- to produce harsh high tones
- to make a noise resembling a scream
- to move with great rapidity
- to speak or write with intense or hysterical emotion
- to protest, demand, or complain vehemently
- to laugh hysterically
- to produce a vivid startling effect
- to utter with or as if with a scream
- a loud sharp penetrating cry or noise
- a very funny person or thing
scream·er ['skrē-mər] -n
- one that screams
- any of a small family (Anhimidae) of So. American wetland birds having a large body, long legs, and spurred wings
- a sensationally startling headline
scream·ing ['skrē-miŋ] -adj, adv
- so striking or conspicuous as to attract notice as if by screaming
- a screaming need for reform
- so funny as to provoke screams of laughter
- extremely fast or powerful
screaming mee·mies [-'mē-mēz] -n pl but sing in constr
- nervous hysteria : jitters
scree ['skrē] -n
- an accumulation of loose stones or rocky debris lying on a slope or at the base of a hill or cliff : talus
screech ['skrēch] -n
- a high shrill piercing cry usu. expressing pain or terror
- a sound resembling a screech
- to utter a high shrill piercing cry : make an outcry usu. in terror or pain
- to make a shrill high-pitched sound resembling a screech
- to move with such a sound
- the car screech ed to a stop
- to utter with or as if with a screech
screech·ing ['skrē-chiŋ] -adj
- abrupt, sudden
- her career came to a screeching halt
screech owl -n
- barn owl
- any of various New World owls (genus Otus)
- either of two small owls ( O. asioof eastern No. America and O. kennicottiiof western No. America) with a pair of tufts of lengthened feathers on the head resembling ears
screechy ['skrē-chē] -adj
- producing a screech
screed ['skrēd] -n
- a lengthy discourse
- an informal piece of writing (as a personal letter)
- a ranting piece of writing
- a strip (as of a plaster of the thickness planned for the coat) laid on as a guide
- a leveling device drawn over freshly poured concrete
screen ['skrēn] -n
- a protective or ornamental device (as a movable partition) shielding an area from heat or drafts or from view
- : something that shelters, protects, or hides: as
- a growth or stand of trees, shrubs, or plants
- a protective formation of troops, ships, or planes
- something that covers or disguises the true nature (as of an activity or feeling)
- his geniality is just a screen
- a maneuver in various sports (as basketball or ice hockey) whereby an opponent is legally impeded or the opponent's view of the play is momentarily blocked
- screen pass
- a perforated plate or cylinder or a meshed wire or cloth fabric usu. mounted and used to separate coarser from finer parts
- a system for examining and separating into different groups
- a piece of apparatus designed to prevent agencies in one part from affecting other parts
- a frame holding a usu. metallic netting used esp. in a window or door to exclude pests (as insects)
- a flat surface on which a picture or series of pictures is projected or reflected
- the surface on which the image appears in an electronic display (as in a television set, radar receiver, or computer terminal)
- the information displayed on a computer screen at one time
- a glass plate ruled with crossing opaque lines through which an image is photographed in making a halftone
- the motion-picture medium or industry
- to guard from injury or danger
- to give shelter or protection to with or as if with a screen
- to separate with or as if with a screen
- to shield (an opponent) from a play or from view of a play
- to pass (as coal, gravel, or ashes) through a screen to separate the fine part from the coarse
- to remove by a screen
- to examine usu. methodically in order to make a separation into different groups
- to select or eliminate by a screening process
- to test or examine for the presence of something (as a disease)
- patients were screen ed for hepatitis
- to provide with a screen to keep out pests (as insects)
- to present (as a motion picture) for viewing on a screen
- to view the presentation of (as a motion picture)
- to present in a motion picture
- to appear on a motion-picture screen
- to provide a screen in a game or sport
screen·ful ['skrēn-,fu̇l] -n
- the amount of information visible at one time on a display screen
screen·ing ['skrē-niŋ] -n
- the act or process of one that screens
- material (as waste or fine coal) separated out by means of a screen
- metal or plastic mesh (as for window screens)
- a showing of a motion picture
screen·land ['skrēn-,land] -n
- filmdom
screen memory -n
- a recollection of early childhood that may be falsely recalled or magnified in importance and that masks another memory of deep emotional significance
screen pass -n
- a forward pass in football to a receiver at or behind the line of scrimmage who is protected by a screen of blockers
screen·play ['skrēn-,plā] -n
- the script and often shooting directions of a story prepared for motion-picture production
screen saver -n
- a computer program that usu. displays various images on the screen of a computer that is on but not in use
screen·shot ['skrēn-,shät] -n
- an image that shows the contents of a computer display
screen test -n, vt
- a short film sequence for assessing the ability or suitability of a person for a motion-picture role
screen·writ·er ['skrēn-,rī-tər] -n
- a writer of screenplays
screw ['skrü] -n, adj
- a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits
- a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece with a spiral groove and a slotted or recessed head designed to be inserted into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together
- a screwlike form : spiral
- a turn of a screw
- a twist like the turn of a screw
- a screwlike device (as a corkscrew)
- a worn-out horse
- a small packet (as of tobacco)
- a prison guard
- a person who bargains shrewdly
- skinflint
- a propeller esp. of a ship
- thumbscrew
- pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to
- an act of sexual intercourse
- a partner in sexual intercourse
- to attach, fasten, or close by means of a screw
- to unite or separate by means of a screw or a twisting motion
- to press tightly in a device (as a vise) operated by a screw
- to operate, tighten, or adjust by means of a screw
- to torture by means of a thumbscrew
- to cause to rotate spirally about an axis
- to twist into strained configurations : contort
- squint
- crumple
- to furnish with a spiral groove or ridge : thread
- to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of
- trying to screw up courage to confess -- Will Scott
- to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actions
- to deprive of or cheat out of something due or expected
- to treat so as to bring about injury or loss (as to a person's reputation)
- use the available Federal machinery to screw our political enemies -- J. W. Dean III
often used as a generalized curse - to extract by pressure or threat
- to copulate with
- to rotate like or as a screw
- to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion
- copulate
screw around -vi
- to waste time with unproductive activity : dally
- to have sexual relations with someone outside of a marriage or steady relationship : be sexually promiscuous
screw·ball ['skrü-,bȯl] -n
- a baseball pitch that spins and breaks in the opposite direction to a curve
- a whimsical, eccentric, or crazy person : zany
screwball -adj
- crazily eccentric or whimsical : zany
screw·bean ['skrü-,bēn] -n
- a leguminous shrub or small tree ( Prosopis pubescens) of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico having spirally twisted pods with sweet pulp called also screwbean mesquite
- the pod of the screwbean
screw·driv·er ['skrü-,drī-vər] -n
- a tool for turning screws
- vodka and orange juice served with ice
screw eye -n
- a wood screw with a head in the form of a loop
screw jack -n
- a screw-operated jack for lifting, exerting pressure, or adjusting position (as of a machine part)
screw pine -n
- any of a genus ( Pandanusof the family Pandanaceae, the screw-pine family) of tropical monocotyledonous Old World trees or shrubs with slender palmlike stems, often huge prop roots, and terminal crowns of swordlike leaves
screw propeller -n
- propeller
screw thread -n
- the projecting helical rib of a screw
- one complete turn of a screw thread
screw·up ['skrü-,əp] -n
- one who screws up
- botch, blunder
screw up -vt
- to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw
- bungle, botch
- to cause to act or function in a crazy or confused way : confound, disturb
- to botch an activity or undertaking
screw·worm ['skrü-,wərm] -n
- a blowfly ( Cochliomyia hominivorax) of the warmer parts of America whose larva develops in sores or wounds or in the nostrils of mammals including humans with serious or sometimes fatal results
- its larva
- any of several flies other than the screwworm and esp. their larvae which parasitize the flesh of mammals
screwy ['skrü-ē] -adj, n
- crazily absurd, eccentric, or unusual
- crazy, insane
scrib·al ['skrī-bəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or due to a scribe
scrib·ble ['skri-bəl] -vb, n
- to write hastily or carelessly without regard to legibility or form
- to cover with careless or worthless writings or drawings
- to write or draw hastily and carelessly
scrib·bler ['skri-b(ə-)lər] -n
- one that scribbles
- a minor or insignificant author
scribe ['skrīb] -n
- a member of a learned class in ancient Israel through New Testament times studying the Scriptures and serving as copyists, editors, teachers, and jurists
- an official or public secretary or clerk
- a copier of manuscripts
- writer
- journalist
- to work as a scribe : write
- to mark a line on by cutting or scratching with a pointed instrument
- to make by cutting or scratching
- scriber
scrib·er ['skrī-bər] -n
- a sharp-pointed tool for making marks and esp. for marking off material (as wood or metal) to be cut
scrieve ['skrēv] -vi
- to move along swiftly and smoothly
scrim ['skrim] -n
- a durable plain-woven usu. cotton fabric for use in clothing, curtains, building, and industry
- a theater drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent or translucent when a scene in back is lighted
- something likened to a theater scrim
scrim·mage ['skri-mij] -n
- a minor battle : skirmish
- a confused fight : scuffle
- the interplay between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball and continues until the ball is dead
- practice play (as in football or basketball) between two squads
scrimmage -vb, n
- to take part in a scrimmage
- to play a scrimmage against
scrimmage line -n
- line of scrimmage
scrimp ['skrimp] -vb, adj
- to be stingy in providing for
- to make too small, short, or scanty
- to be frugal or stingy
scrim·shan·der ['skrim-,shan-dər] -n
- scrimshaw
- a person who creates scrimshaw
scrim·shaw ['skrim-,shȯ] -vb
- to carve or engrave into scrimshaw
- to produce scrimshaw
scrimshaw -n
- any of various carved or engraved articles made orig. by American whalers usu. from baleen or whale ivory
- scrimshawed work
- the art, practice, or technique of producing scrimshaw
scrip ['skrip] -n
- a small bag or wallet
- a short writing (as a certificate, schedule, or list)
- a small piece
- any of various documents used as evidence that the holder or bearer is entitled to receive something (as a fractional share of stock or an allotment of land)
- paper currency or a token issued for temporary use in an emergency
- prescription
script ['skript] -n
- something written : text
- an original or principal instrument or document
- manuscript
- the written text of a stage play, screenplay, or broadcast
- the one used in production or performance
- a style of printed letters that resembles handwriting
- written characters : handwriting
- alphabet
- a plan of action
- to prepare a script for or from
- to provide carefully considered details for (as a plan of action)
- an event carefully script ed to attract attention
- prescription
script·er ['skrip-tər] -n
- scriptwriter
scrip·to·ri·um [skrip-'tȯr-ē-əm] -n
- a copying room for scribes esp. in a medieval monastery
scrip·tur·al ['skrip(t)-sh(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, contained in, or according to a sacred writing
- biblical
scrip·ture ['skrip(t)-shər] -n
- the books of the Bible often used in pl.
- a passage from the Bible
- a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative
- something written
- the primitive man's awe for any scripture -- George Santayana
script·writ·er ['skrip(t)-,rī-tər] -n
- a person who writes scripts
scriv·en·er ['skriv-nər, 'skri-və-] -n
- a professional or public copyist or writer : scribe
- notary public
scrod ['skräd] -n
- a young fish (as a cod or haddock)
- one split and boned for cooking
scrof·u·la ['skrȯ-fyə-lə, 'skrä-] -n
- tuberculosis of lymph nodes esp. in the neck
scrof·u·lous [-ləs] -adj
- of, relating to, or affected with scrofula
- having a diseased run-down appearance
- morally contaminated
- scrofulous characters...so quick to smear -- John Garrity
scroll ['skrōl] -n, adj
- a roll (as of papyrus, leather, or parchment) for writing a document
- a written message
- roster, list
- a riband with rolled ends often inscribed with a motto
- something resembling a scroll in shape
- a spiral or convoluted form in ornamental design derived from the curves of a loosely or partly rolled parchment scroll
- the curved head of a bowed stringed musical instrument
- to move text or graphics up or down or across a display screen as if by unrolling a scroll
- to progress, move, or be revealed as if by the unrolling of a scroll
- watch scenery scroll by large picture windows -- David Yeadon
- to cause (text or graphics on a display screen) to move in scrolling
scroll saw -n
- fretsaw
- a machine saw with a table for supporting the material and a narrow vertically reciprocating blade for cutting curved lines or ornamental openwork patterns
scroll·work ['skrōl-,wərk] -n
- ornamentation characterized by scrolls
- fancy designs in wood often made with a scroll saw
scrooge ['skrüj] -n
- a miserly person
scro·tum ['skrō-təm] -n, adj
- the external pouch that in most mammals contains the testes
scrouge ['skrau̇j, 'skrüj] -vb
- crowd, press
scrounge ['skrau̇nj] -vb, n
- steal, swipe
- to get as needed by or as if by foraging, scavenging, or borrowing
- scrounging enough money for a bus ticket
- finagle, wheedle often used with up
- to search about and turn up something needed from whatever source is available
- to actively seek money, work, or sustenance from any available source
scroungy ['skrau̇n-jē] -adj
- being shabby, dirty, or unkempt
scrub ['skrəb] -n
- a stunted tree or shrub
- vegetation consisting chiefly of scrubs
- a tract covered with scrub
- a domestic animal of mixed or unknown parentage and usu. inferior conformation : mongrel
- a person of insignificant size or standing
- a player not belonging to the first string
- to clean with hard rubbing : scour
- to remove by scrubbing
- to subject to friction : rub
- wash
- cancel, eliminate
- scrubbed the flight because of bad weather
- to use hard rubbing in cleaning
- to prepare for performing surgery by scrubbing oneself
- an act or instance of scrubbing
- cancellation
- one that scrubs
- a powerful and esp. cosmetic cleanser
- loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff
scrubbed ['skrə-bəd] -adj
- scrubby
- giving the impression of being clean or wholesome as if from scrubbing
- days when studios manufactured scrubbed public images for their stars -- Sally Helgesen
scrub·ber ['skrə-bər] -n
- one that scrubs
- an apparatus for removing impurities esp. from gases
scrub brush -n
- a brush with hard bristles for heavy cleaning called also scrubbing brush
scrub·by ['skrə-bē] -adj
- inferior in size or quality : stunted
- covered with or consisting of scrub
- shabby, paltry
scrub jay -n
- either of two crestless jays ( Aphelocoma californicaof the western U.S. and Mexico and A. coerulescensof Florida) typically of scrub or chaparral that have a blue head, tail, and wings and a brownish back
scrub·land ['skrəb-,land] -n
- land covered with scrub
scrub nurse -n
- a nurse who assists the surgeon in an operating room
scrub oak -n
- any of various chiefly American oaks (as Quercus ilicifoliaof the northeastern U.S.) of small size and usu. shrubby habit
scrub pine -n
- a pine of dwarf, straggly, or scrubby growth usu. by reason of environmental conditions
- a pine tree unsuitable for lumber by reason of inferior or defective growth
scrub typhus -n
- an acute febrile bacterial disease that is caused by a rickettsia ( Orientia tsutsugamushisyn. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi) transmitted by mite larvae, resembles typhus transmitted by lice, and is widespread in the western Pacific area called also tsutsugamushi disease
scrub·wom·an ['skrəb-,wu̇-mən] -n
- charwoman
scruff ['skrəf] -n
- the back of the neck : nape
scruffy ['skrə-fē] -adj, adv, n
- unkempt, slovenly, shaggy
scrum ['skrəm] -n, vi
- a rugby play in which the forwards of each side come together in a tight formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball using their feet when it is tossed in among them
- the arrangement of players in a scrum
- a usu. brief and disorderly struggle or fight : scrape, scuffle
- madhouse
- a usu. tightly packed or disorderly crowd : throng
scrump·tious ['skrəm(p)-shəs] -adj, adv
- delightful, excellent
- delicious
scrunch ['skrənch, 'skru̇nch] -vb
- crunch, crush
- to draw or squeeze together tightly
- crumple often used with up
- to cause (as one's features) to draw together usu. used with up
- to move with or make a crunching sound
- crouch, hunch
- squeeze
- a crunching sound
scrunch·ie ['skrən-chē, 'skru̇n-] -n
- a fabric-covered elastic used for holding back hair (as in a ponytail)
scru·ple ['skrü-pəl] -n
- a minute part or quantity : iota
scruple -n
- an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action
- the quality or state of being scrupulous
- mental reservation
- to have scruples
- to show reluctance on grounds of conscience : hesitate
scru·pu·los·i·ty [,skrü-pyə-'lä-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being scrupulous
- scruple
scru·pu·lous ['skrü-pyə-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- having moral integrity : acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
- punctiliously exact : painstaking
- working with scrupulous care
scru·ta·ble ['skrü-tə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being deciphered : comprehensible
scru·ti·neer [,skrü-tə-'nir] -n
- one that examines
- one who takes or counts votes
scru·ti·nise ['skrü-tə-,nīz] -vb, n
(variant of scrutinize)
- to examine closely and minutely
- to make a scrutiny
scru·ti·nize ['skrü-tə-,nīz] -vb, n
- to examine closely and minutely
- to make a scrutiny
scru·ti·ny ['skrü-tə-nē, 'skrüt-nē] -n
- a searching study, inquiry, or inspection : examination
- a searching look
- close watch : surveillance
SCSI -abbr
- small computer system interface
scu·ba ['skü-bə] -n
- an apparatus utilizing a portable supply of compressed gas (as air) supplied at a regulated pressure and used for breathing while swimming underwater
scuba diver -n, vi
- one who swims underwater with the aid of scuba gear
scud ['skəd] -vi
- to move or run swiftly esp. as if driven forward
- clouds scudding across the sky
- to run before a gale
- the action of scudding : rush
- loose vapory clouds driven swiftly by the wind
- a slight sudden shower
- mist, rain, snow, or spray driven by the wind
- a gust of wind
scu·do ['skü-(,)dō] -n
- a gold or silver coin formerly used in Italy
- a unit of value equivalent to a scudo
scuff ['skəf] -vb
- to walk without lifting the feet : shuffle
- to poke or shuffle a foot in exploration or embarrassment
- to become scratched, chipped, or roughened by wear
- a countertop that won't scuff
- cuff
- to scrape (the feet) along a surface while walking or back and forth while standing
- to poke at with the toe
- to scratch, gouge, or wear away the surface of
- a noise of or as if of scuffing
- the act or an instance of scuffing
- a mark or injury caused by scuffing
- a flat-soled slipper without quarter or heel strap
scuf·fle ['skə-fəl] -vi, n
- to struggle at close quarters with disorder and confusion
- to struggle (as by working odd jobs) to get by
- to move with a quick shuffling gait : scurry
- shuffle
scuffle hoe -n
- a garden hoe that has both edges sharpened and can be pushed forward or drawn back
scull ['skəl] -n
- an oar used at the stern of a boat to propel it forward with a thwartwise motion
- either of a pair of oars usu. less than 10 feet (3 meters) in length and operated by one person
- a racing shell propelled by one or two persons using sculls
- to propel (a boat) by sculls or by a large oar worked thwartwise
- to scull a boat
scul·lery ['skə-lə-rē, 'skəl-rē] -n
- a room for cleaning and storing dishes and cooking utensils and for doing messy kitchen work
scul·lion ['skəl-yən] -n
- a kitchen helper
scul·pin ['skəl-pən] -n
- any of a family (Cottidae) of spiny large-headed usu. bottom-dwelling often scaleless bony fishes with large fanlike pectoral fins
- a scorpion fish ( Scorpaena guttata) of the southern California coast caught for food and sport
sculpt ['skəlpt] -vb
- carve, sculpture
sculpt·ed ['skəlp-təd] -adj
- buff
sculp·tor ['skəlp-tər] -n
- an artist who makes sculptures
sculp·tress [-trəs] -n
- a woman who is a sculptor
sculp·tur·al ['skəlp-chə-rəl, 'skəlp-shrəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to sculpture
- resembling sculpture : sculpturesque
sculp·ture ['skəlp-chər] -n
- the action or art of processing (as by carving, modeling, or welding) plastic or hard materials into works of art
- work produced by sculpture
- a three-dimensional work of art (as a statue)
- impressed or raised markings or a pattern of such esp. on a plant or animal part
sculpture ['skəlp-chə-riŋ, 'skəlp-shriŋ] -vb
- to form an image or representation of from solid material (as wood or stone)
- to form into a three-dimensional work of art
- to change (the form of the earth's surface) by natural processes (as erosion and deposition)
- to shape by or as if by carving or molding
- to work as a sculptor
sculp·tur·esque [,skəlp-chə-'resk] -adj, adv
- done in the manner of or resembling sculpture
scum ['skəm] -n, adj
- extraneous matter or impurities risen to or formed on the surface of a liquid often as a foul filmy covering
- the scoria of metals in a molten state : dross
- a slimy film on a solid or gelatinous object
- refuse
- a low, vile, or worthless person or group of people
- to become covered with or as if with scum
scum·bag ['skəm-,bag also -,bāg] -n
- a dirty or despicable person
scum·ble ['skəm-bəl] -vt
- to make (as color or a painting) less brilliant by covering with a thin coat of opaque or semiopaque color applied with a nearly dry brush
- to apply (a color) in this manner
- to soften the lines or colors of (a drawing) by rubbing lightly
scumble -n
- the act or effect of scumbling
- a material used for scumbling
scun·gil·li [skün-'jē-lē, -'gē-, -'ji-] -n
- conch used as food
scun·ner ['skə-nər] -vi
- to be in a state of disgusted irritation
scunner -n
- an unreasonable or extreme dislike or prejudice
scup ['skəp] -n
- a porgy ( Stenotomus chrysops) occurring along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. chiefly from No. Carolina to Maine and used as a panfish
scup·per ['skə-pər] -n
- an opening cut through the bulwarks of a ship so that water falling on deck may flow overboard
- an opening in the wall of a building through which water can drain from a floor or flat roof
scupper -vt
- to defeat or put an end to : do in
scup·per·nong [-,nȯŋ, -,näŋ] -n
- muscadine
- a cultivated muscadine with yellowish-green plum-flavored fruits
- a sweet aromatic amber-colored wine made from scuppernongs
scurf ['skərf] -n, adj
- thin dry scales detached from the epidermis esp. in an abnormal skin condition
- dandruff
- something like flakes or scales adhering to a surface
- the foul remains of something adherent
- a scaly deposit or covering on some plant parts
- a localized or general darkening and roughening of a plant surface usu. more pronounced than russeting
- a plant disease characterized by scurf
scur·rile ['skər-əl, 'skə-rəl] -adj
- scurrilous
scur·ril·i·ty [skə-'ri-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being scurrilous
- scurrilous or abusive language
- an offensively rude or abusive remark
scur·ri·lous ['skər-ə-ləs, 'skə-rə-] -adj, adv, n
- using or given to coarse language
- vulgar and evil
- scurrilous imposters who used a religious exterior to rob poor people -- Edwin Benson
- containing obscenities, abuse, or slander
scur·ry ['skər-ē, 'skə-rē] -vi, n
- to move in or as if in a brisk pace : scamper
- to move around in an agitated, confused, or fluttering manner
scur·vy ['skər-vē] -n
- a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and a bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes
scurvy [-və-lē] -adj, adv, n
- arousing disgust or scorn : contemptible, despicable
scurvy grass -n
- a cruciferous herb (as Cochlearia officinalis) formerly used in preventing or treating scurvy
scut ['skət] -n
- a short erect tail (as of a hare)
scu·tage ['skü-tij, 'skyü-] -n
- a tax levied on a vassal or a knight in lieu of military service
scutch ['skəch] -vt
- to separate the woody fiber from (flax or hemp) by beating
- scutcher
- a bricklayer's hammer for cutting, trimming, and dressing bricks
scutch·eon ['skə-chən] -n
- escutcheon
scutch·er ['skə-chər] -n
- an implement or machine for scutching flax or cotton
scute ['sküt, 'skyüt] -n
- an external bony or horny plate or large scale
scu·tel·late [skü-'te-lət, skyü-; 'sk(y)ü-tə-,lāt] -adj
- having or covered with scutella
scu·tel·lum [skü-'te-ləm, skyü-] -n, adj
- a hard plate or scale (as on the thorax of an insect or the tarsus of a bird)
- the shield-shaped cotyledon of a monocotyledon (as a grass)
scut·ter ['skə-tər] -vi
- scurry, scamper
scut·tle ['skə-tᵊl] -n
- a shallow open basket for carrying something (as grain or garden produce)
- a metal pail that usu. has a bail and a sloped lip and is used esp. for carrying coal
scuttle -n
- : a small opening in a wall or roof furnished with a lid: as
- a small opening or hatchway in the deck of a ship large enough to admit a person and with a lid for covering it
- a small hole in the side or bottom of a ship fitted with a covering or glazed
- a covering that closes a scuttle
- to cut a hole through the bottom, deck, or side of (a ship)
- to sink or attempt to sink by making holes through the bottom
- destroy, wreck
- scrap
- a quick shuffling pace
- a short swift run
- scurry
scut·tle·butt ['skə-tᵊl-,bət] -n
- a cask on shipboard to contain freshwater for a day's use
- a drinking fountain on a ship or at a naval or marine installation
- rumor, gossip
scu·tum ['skü-təm, 'skyü-] -n
- a bony, horny, or chitinous plate : scute
scut work ['skət-] -n
- routine and often menial labor
scuzz·ball ['skəz-,bȯl] -n
- an unpleasant, dirty, or dangerous person : creep
scuz·zy ['skə-zē] -adj
- dirty, shabby, or foul in condition or character
Scyl·la ['si-lə] -n
- a nymph changed into a monster in Greek mythology who terrorizes mariners in the Strait of Messina
scy·phis·to·ma [sī-'fis-tə-mə] -n
- a sexually produced scyphozoan larva that ultimately repeatedly constricts transversely to form free-swimming medusae
scy·pho·zo·an [,sī-fə-'zō-ən] -n, adj
- any of a class (Scyphozoa) of coelenterates that comprise jellyfishes lacking a true polyp and usu. a velum
scythe ['sīth, 'sī] -n
- an implement used for mowing (as grass) and composed of a long curving blade fastened at an angle to a long handle
- to use a scythe
- to cut with or as if with a scythe
Scyth·i·an ['si-thē-ən, -thē-] -n, adj
- a member of an ancient nomadic people inhabiting Scythia
- the Iranian language of the Scythians