
scale� | scale�: n. Often, scales. balance: We need new bathroom scales: the old one gives too high a reading.
scale� | scale�: n. 1 flake, imbrication; scurf, dandruff; Technical squama, plate, scute or scutum, lamina, lamella: Scrape the scales off the fish with a sharp knife before gutting it. 2 coating, encrustation or incrustation, crust, overlay, layer, cake, caking, tartar, plaque: The hardness of the water causes the scale inside the kettle.
scale� | scale�: n. 1 range, compass, rank, ranking, gradation, graduation, register, spectrum, calibration, progression, hierarchy, scope, gamut: As we ascend in the scale of life we rise in the scale of longevity. 2 proportion, ratio: The scale of these drawings is One Foot = One Centimetre. --v. 3 climb, ascend, mount, clamber up, surmount, go up, escalade: Using grappling hooks and ropes, we scaled the wall in minutes. 4 regulate, adjust, proportion, Chiefly US and Canadian prorate: The size of the cable is scaled to the weight it must carry. 5 scale up or down. increase, enlarge, raise; decrease, reduce, diminish, lower: Depending on the expanse of the fa�ade, the windows ought to be scaled up or down accordingly.
scaly | scaly: adj. 1 rough, imbricated, shingly, Technical lamellar, laminar, lamellate, scutate: The scaly covering of reptiles and fishes is related to the feathers of birds. 2 scabby, scabrous, squamous, squamulose, squamosal, squamose, scurfy, furfuraceous, scruffy: The medication causes the skin to dry and become temporarily scaly.
scan | scan: v. 1 glance at or through, look over, skim, read over, flip or thumb or leaf through: I didn''t have time to read it thoroughly, but I did scan it. 2 study, pore over, examine, investigate, scrutinize, inspect, delve into, research, explore (in depth), sweep, Archaic con: Scan the horizon for hostile planes. --n. 3 look, survey, inspection, examination, overview: A microscopic scan revealed no trace of blood.
scandal | scandal: n. 1 shame, disgrace, embarrassment, sin, outrage: It is a scandal how much of the money raised for charity goes into the pockets of the fund-raisers. 2 discredit, damage, calumny, ignominy, obloquy, dishonour, degradation, disrepute, infamy: The scandal resulting from their being found together could never be lived down. The breath of scandal never touched her. 3 slander, libel, aspersion, innuendo, insinuation, abuse, dirt, defilement, defamation, slur, smear, taint, blemish, spot, stigma, smirch, black mark or spot, blot (on the escutcheon), (badge of) infamy, skeleton in the cupboard, Brit blot on one''s copybook: His cowardice brought scandal to the name that could never be lived down.
scandalize | scandalize: v. appal, shock, outrage, affront, offend, horrify, upset, disturb; rankle, stick in (someone''s) craw or throat, gall: They were scandalized to learn the truth about Cooksley''s father.
scandalous | scandalous: adj. 1 shocking, disgraceful, ignominious, improper, indecorous, unseemly, infamous, outrageous, shameful, immodest, dishonourable, disreputable, sordid, despicable, flagitious, wicked, sinful, evil, iniquitous, profligate, immoral, indecent, lewd, lascivious, lustful, licentious, lecherous, atrocious, heinous, disgusting, fulsome, taboo, unmentionable, unspeakable: The scandalous goings-on at the Hellfire Club are well documented. 2 defamatory, libellous, slanderous, calumnious, calumniatory, aspersive, abusive, scurrilous, injurious, defamatory: The newspaper published a scandalous article about him which they refused to retract.
scanty | scanty: adj. 1 scant, sparse, scarce, little, meagre, minimal; barely adequate or sufficient, limited, restricted, Colloq measly: The news from the front was scanty. We received only scanty support from the Arts Council. 2 skimpy, short, small, sparse, minimal, meagre, in short supply, Colloq chiefly Brit thin on the ground: Investor interest in the new share offering seemed to be scanty.
scapegoat | scapegoat: n. victim, front, dupe, gull, cat''s-paw, whipping-boy, Brit man of straw, Aunt Sally, US straw man, Colloq fall guy, Slang sucker: We have to find a scapegoat to take the punishment for us.
scar | scar: n. 1 blemish, mark, damage, disfigurement, wound, injury, scratch, mar, cut, burn, brand, cicatrix: Fortunately, the cut is shallow and shouldn''t leave a scar. --v. 2 blemish, mark, damage, disfigure, wound, injure, scratch, mar, cut, burn, brand; dent: The blow scarred him for life.
scarce | scarce: adj. scanty, scant, insufficient, inadequate, deficient, wanting, lacking, rare, unusual, at a premium, in short supply, meagre, few and far between, seldom met with, hard to come by, Chiefly Brit thin on the ground: Good editors are very scarce.
scarcely | scarcely: adv. 1 hardly, barely, (only) just, not quite: He had scarcely uttered the magic words when the rock split open. 2 (probably or certainly or surely or definitely) not, in no way, not at all, not in the least, by no means, on no account, under no circumstances, nowise, Colloq US noway: I scarcely need remind you that you are getting married tomorrow.
scarcity | scarcity: n. lack, want, need, paucity, dearth, insufficiency, shortage, inadequacy, inadequateness: The teaching of foreign languages is not improved by the scarcity of qualified teachers.
scare | scare: v. 1 frighten, alarm, startle, shock, dismay, daunt, appal, give (someone) a shock or a fright, terrify, terrorize, threaten, menace, cow, intimidate, horrify, US and Canadian spook, Colloq scare the pants off, scare the life or the living daylights or the hell out of, scare out of one''s wits, make one''s hair stand on end, make one''s flesh creep or crawl, give one goose bumps or goose-pimples, US scare the bejesus out of, Taboo slang scare or frighten the shit out of, scare shitless, US scare shitty: A sudden noise scared me, and I ran out of the cave as fast as I could. 2 scare up. scrape together or up, find, gather, collect, raise, dig up, get, come by, scrounge (up): I can''t scare up that much money in one day! --n. 3 fright, shock, surprise, start: I had a terrible scare when I saw what I thought was blood.
scared | scared: adj. frightened, alarmed, afraid, appalled, shocked, terrified, horrified, startled: Don''t be scared, I won''t hurt you.
scary | scary: adj. frightening, eerie, terrifying, frightful, hair-raising, unnerving, blood-curdling, horrifying, spine-chilling, intimidating, daunting; horrendous, horrid, horrible, creepy, crawly, Colloq spooky: Aren''t you afraid to watch scary movies on TV when you''re home alone?
scathing | scathing: adj. searing, withering, damaging, harmful, severe, harsh, stern, nasty, biting, acrid, acrimonious, mordant, incisive, cutting, sharp, keen, virulent, vitriolic, acid, scorching, burning, fierce, savage, ferocious: She was totally unprepared for the critics'' scathing attack on her book.
scatter | scatter: v. 1 spread, diffuse, shower, litter, sprinkle, strew, circulate, distribute, disseminate, sow, broadcast: As the seeds of dissent were scattered far and wide, we became aware of a ground swell of hatred for the regime. 2 disperse, separate, dissipate, dispel, disband, break up, go off: My notes were scattered all over the floor. Immediately after dividing up the loot, the gang scattered to the four winds.
scatterbrained | scatterbrained: n. hare-brained, rattle-headed, rattle-brained, frivolous, flibbertigibbet, giddy, dazed, flighty, wool-gathering, Colloq dippy, dizzy, dopey or dopy, slap-happy: It irritates me to think that our lives might depend on such a scatterbrained fool.
scattering | scattering: n. smattering, sprinkling, trifle, bit, suggestion, soup�on, hint: It is true, there was a scattering of rebellious sentiment in the town.
scenario | scenario: n. 1 (master or ground or floor) plan, (grand) scheme, plot, schema, design, outline, layout, framework, structure; sequence of events, routine: According to this scenario, the bank will provide the financing and we shall organize the take-over. 2 (plot) summary, pr�cis, r�sum�, synopsis; (working or shooting) script, screenplay: The scenario for the film was a joint venture between the director and the author of the book on which it was based.
scene | scene: n. 1 location, site, place, area, locale, spot, locality, whereabouts, sphere, milieu, backdrop, background: The scenes of my youth are always in my mind. 2 action, episode, part, chapter, section, segment; (stage) setting, mise en sc�ne; scenery: The next scene takes place in Venice. Is the Venice scene ready? 3 commotion, upset, exhibition, display, row, brouhaha, disturbance, furore or US furor, tantrum, argument, altercation, uncomfortable or disagreeable situation, episode, incident: She made an unpleasant scene in the restaurant when he refused to sit next to her. 4 view, scenery, sight, landscape, seascape, panorama, vista, picture, view, prospect: The scene from the terrace was completely tranquil. 5 behind the scenes. secretly, privately, clandestinely, confidentially, surreptitiously, on the q.t. or Q.T.: Sigrid operated behind the scenes and her identity was never revealed to MI5. 6 make or do the scene. socialize, appear, get around or about, go out, participate: We used to make the scene in the Village back in the forties, but no more.
scenic | scenic: adj. picturesque, panoramic, pretty, beautiful, grand, awesome, awe-inspiring, impressive, striking, spectacular, breathtaking: The train passes through some incredibly scenic routes in Switzerland.
scent | scent: n. 1 fragrance, aroma, perfume, redolence, smell, odour, bouquet, whiff, trace: The room was filled with the scent of wild flowers. 2 trail, spoor, track: In drag hunting, the scent is laid down by a sack dragged along the ground. --v. 3 perceive, detect, find out, determine, discern, distinguish, recognize, sense, smell, sniff (out), get wind of, learn or hear about: Scenting possible trouble, he decided he had better take along my revolver. 4 perfume: She had left behind her handkerchief, scented with Chanel No. 19.
sceptic | sceptic: n. doubter, questioner, doubting Thomas, disbeliever, nullifidian, agnostic, scoffer, cynic: You''ll always find some sceptics who don''t believe that a woman could be a good prime minister.
sceptical | sceptical: adj. doubting, dubious, doubtful, questioning, disbelieving, incredulous, agnostic, scoffing, cynical, mistrustful, distrustful: We were sceptical at first whether anything would come of it, but then things began to happen.
scepticism | scepticism: n. doubt, dubiety, dubiousness, doubtfulness, disbelief, incredulity, incredulousness, agnosticism, cynicism, mistrust, distrust, mistrustfulness, distrustfulness: At first, the entire matter was greeted with some scepticism; but then the Berlin Wall came tumbling down.
schedule | schedule: n. 1 programme, timetable, plan, calendar, agenda, outline, list, listing, record, register: I''d like a complete schedule of your work for the next month on my desk tomorrow. --v. 2 programme, organize, plan, outline, list, record, register, arrange, book, time, slate, appoint, assign, allot, dedicate, earmark: Schedule the next meeting for the 15th of the month. Alistair is scheduled to speak tomorrow.
schematic | schematic: adj. 1 diagrammatic(al), representational, graphic, charted: We have the schematic drawings showing the placement of the equipment. --n. 2 diagram, blueprint, layout, (floor or game) plan, scheme, design, representation, graph, (flow or PERT) chart: Give copies of the schematics to the electricians so that they can plan where to put the wiring.
scheme | scheme: n. 1 plan, plot, design, programme, system, course (of action), schema, outline, exposition, projection, draft, method, technique, approach, game plan, scenario: In my scheme, compensation would be dependent on productivity, merit, and length of service. 2 pattern, arrangement, layout, design, diagram, blueprint, chart, map, drawing, schematic, disposition, order, organization, schema: This alternative scheme shows the executive offices on the second floor. 3 plot, plan, ploy, manoeuvre, strategy, stratagem, tactic, machination, subterfuge, trick, device, dodge, wile, ruse, intrigue, Colloq racket, game, move: Ashton''s scheme was to lure the security guards into the outer room, then lock them in. --v. 4 plan, plot, devise, contrive, intrigue, organize, formulate, hatch, conspire, machinate, manoeuvre, connive, concoct, Colloq cook up: Clifton had been scheming to get his revenge on them ever since the Manchester episode.
scheming | scheming: adj. conniving, plotting, nefarious, treacherous, crafty, cunning, artful, sly, wily, devious, Machiavellian, intriguing, slick, calculating, tricky, foxy, slippery, underhanded, duplicitous, deceitful: Wait till I lay my hands on the scheming little thief!
schism | schism: n. split, rift, break, breach, division, rupture, separation, disunion: The schism was caused by a group of left-wing idealists.
schismatic | schismatic: adj. schismatical, separatist, breakaway, divisive, dissident, heretical: The schismatic movement in art was marked by one faction''s abandonment of realism.
scholar | scholar: n. 1 academic, professor, teacher, pedagogue, authority, expert, pundit, savant, bookman, book-woman, man or woman of letters, intellectual, highbrow, bookworm, Colloq egghead, brain, US longhair: Professor Read is one of the most respected linguistics scholars in the world. 2 student, pupil, schoolboy, schoolgirl, undergraduate: Cosgrove was a failure as a scholar, preferring football to physics.
scholarly | scholarly: adj. learned, erudite, lettered, scholastic, profound, deep, intellectual, academic, highbrow(ed), ivory-tower(ed), Colloq egghead, brainy, US longhair, long-haired: Her scholarly achievements are not limited to scholarly articles for learned journals.
scholarship | scholarship: n. 1 learning, erudition, knowledge, lore, education, schooling, training, preparation, Colloq know-how: Elsa Cairn brings to her appointment as headmistress considerable scholarship and experience. 2 grant, endowment, award, fellowship, Brit exhibition, Chiefly Scots and New Zealand bursarship, bursary: Without the scholarship, I should never have been able to continue my education.
school | school: n. 1 (educational) institution, kindergarten, nursery school, primary or grammar or secondary or high school, institute, college, university, seminary; Alma Mater; boarding-school, day-school; public school, private school, Brit State school; lyc�e; Lyceum, Brit first or middle school, US junior high school: His mother was very upset when he hinted that he might quit school. 2 set, coterie, circle, clique, group, denomination, faction, sect, followers, devotees, adherents, votaries, disciples; style, kind, form, manner, fashion: Burne-Jones belonged to the Pre-Raphaelite School of painters. 3 philosophy, principles, creed, set of beliefs, way of life, persuasion, credo, dogma, teaching, view, opinion, faction, approach: Regarding the creation of the universe, do you support the big-bang school or the steady-state school? --v. 4 teach, educate, drill, inculcate, instil, indoctrinate, instruct, tutor, train, discipline, coach, prepare, prime, equip, ready; mould, shape, form; school in, imbue with, infuse with: Young ladies were schooled in all the social graces.
school-book | school-book: n. text(book), primer, grammar (-book), reader, manual, handbook, exercise book, notebook, copybook, Rare enchiridion, Old-fashioned hornbook, abecedarium: All I did was ask if I could carry her school-books!
schooling | schooling: n. education, teaching, instruction, tutelage, tuition, guidance, training, preparation, indoctrination, edification, enlightenment; learning, study, research: How many years of schooling are needed to become a doctor?
schoolteacher | schoolteacher: n. teacher, professor, instructor, tutor, pedagogue, schoolmaster, schoolmistress, Scots dominie, Colloq school-ma''m: It is not often realized what a profound influence schoolteachers have on one''s entire life.
science | science: n. 1 (body of) knowledge or information, (body of) laws or principles, discipline, study, branch, field, area, subject, realm, sphere: Many new sciences have sprung up even in the past fifty years. DNA research falls properly into the science of microbiologic genetics. 2 skill, art, technique, expertise, proficiency, method, system: He made a science of brewing tea.
scientific | scientific: adj. (well-)organized, (well-)regulated, (well-)controlled, (well-)ordered, orderly, systematic, methodical, precise, meticulous, thorough, painstaking, detailed: A scientific approach to the problem would start with a complete analysis of present conditions.
scintillating | scintillating: adj. 1 sparkling, coruscating, flashing, dazzling, gleaming, glittering, twinkling, shimmering, glistening, shining, lustrous, radiant, effulgent, brilliant, Literary nitid: Madame Irena appeared wearing a scintillating silver lam� gown. 2 exciting, engaging, lively, effervescent, fascinating, entrancing, stimulating, invigorating, dynamic, vivacious: I cannot remember when I last found myself in such scintillating company.
scoff� | scoff�: v. Often, scoff at. deride, belittle, dismiss, disparage, mock, make light of, sneer (at), poke fun (at), ridicule, spoof, lampoon, jeer (at), chaff, tease, twit, rib, kid, Brit rag: It''s easy for you to scoff at Clare''s tantrums - you don''t have to live with her. Don''t scoff: your turn might come next.
scoff� | scoff�: v. 1 devour, put away, gorge oneself on, wolf (down), bolt, stuff (oneself with), gobble (up or down), guzzle, gulp (down), Brit gollop: The two of them scoffed every crumb they could find. --n. 2 food, victuals, rations, edibles, provisions, Colloq grub, eats, chow, Slang Brit prog: In no time at all, they had cleared out every last bit of scoff in the larder.
scold | scold: v. 1 reprimand, chide, reprove, upbraid, criticize, censure, find fault (with), rebuke, reproach, lecture, berate, rate, castigate, take (someone) to task, find fault with, rap (someone''s) knuckles, slap (someone''s) wrist, Colloq bawl out, dress down, give (someone) hell, give (someone) what for, jump on (someone), jump down (someone''s) throat, call (someone) to account, bring (someone) to book, let (someone) have it with both barrels, give (someone) a piece of (one''s) mind, give (someone) a tongue-lashing or a talking-to, give (someone) a hard time, rake or haul (someone) over the coals, tell (someone) off, tick (someone) off, skin (someone) alive, call or have (someone) on the carpet, light or rip or tear or lace or sail into (someone), US chew out, jump all over (someone), Brit carpet: When their mother scolded them, they began to cry. --n. 2 nag, shrew, termagant, virago, fishwife, beldam, harridan, hell-cat, fury, amazon, tigress, Xanthippe, Colloq battleaxe: In the old days, they used to take scolds, tie them in a chair at the end of a pole, and dunk them in a pond till they cooled off.
scoop | scoop: n. 1 ladle, dipper, bailer, spoon: Use the scoop to skim the fat off the soup. 2 exclusive: Fergus''s story on the minister''s illegal business dealings was a real scoop for the paper. 3 (latest) news, (inside) story, revelation, truth, Colloq latest, low-down, info, dope, Brit gen, US poop: What''s the scoop on that man seen coming out of her bedroom? --v. 4 Often, scoop up. bail, dip, ladle, spoon: They scooped up some sand and spread it on the ice for traction. 5 scoop out. gouge out, excavate, spoon out, hollow out, dig, cut: Scoop out some melon balls for the fruit salad. 6 scoop up. pick up, gather (up), sweep up or together, take up or in: He scooped up the money and ran out of the bank.
scope | scope: n. 1 range, reach, field, area, extent, compass, expanse, breadth, sphere, orbit, span: The scope of her interests includes both the sciences and the arts. 2 leeway, space, room, elbow-room, freedom, opportunity, capacity, stretch, latitude, spread: Have you allowed enough scope for growth?
scorch | scorch: v. sear, blacken, burn, roast, singe, char: Though scorched in the fire, the papers were saved intact.
scorching | scorching: adj. 1 hot, torrid, searing, parching, shrivelling, tropical, hellish, sizzling, broiling, boiling, sweltering: Scorching heat waves are dangerous for the very young and the elderly. 2 critical, caustic, scathing, mordant, vituperative, excoriating, harsh, acrimonious, bitter: The shadow minister for finance issued a scorching condemnation of the government''s tax policies.
score | score: n. 1 record, account, reckoning, register, tally, amount, number, count, sum, total; mark, grade: What was your best golf score? Chester got a score of 80 in the French test. 2 nick, groove, scratch, line, mark, stroke, notch, cut, Archery nock: Every time he won, he made a score on his walking-stick. 3 twenty: And the days of our lives shall be three score years and ten. 4 Often, scores. dozens, hundreds, (tens or hundreds of) thousands, millions, number(s), drove(s), horde(s), host(s), multitude(s), herd(s), legion(s), lot(s), mass(es), myriad(s), shoal(s), pack(s), covey(s), bevy or bevies, swarm(s), flock(s), army or armies, crowd(s), throng(s): Passengers by the score angrily protested against the airline''s policy of overbooking flights. Scores of animals were fleeing before the forest fire. 5 music, accompaniment, Technical full or short or vocal score: Boito might have written the libretto, but the score was by Verdi. 6 situation, story, news, status (quo), condition, word, Colloq latest, scoop, US poop: What''s the score on your applications to medical school? 7 dupe, gull, victim, greenhorn, Colloq fall guy, chump, goat, sitting duck, Slang sucker, patsy, mark, Brit mug: That fellow in the Hawaiian shirt looks a likely score for our little scam. 8 ground(s), basis, account, reason, rationale, provocation, cause: On what score can you justify eliminating him from the competition? 9 settle or pay off or even a score or the score or old scores. get revenge, retaliate, get even, avenge, repay, get an eye for an eye, give tit for tat, give measure for measure, pay (someone) back in his or her own coin, give (someone) a taste or a dose of his or her or their own medicine, Colloq get one''s own back: He tried to find out where MacTavish moved had moved to as he had an old score to settle with him. --v. 10 mark, line, incise, scratch, nick, notch, cut, groove, graduate; scrape, deface, mar, gouge, slash: The dipstick is scored at intervals to indicate how much oil is in the crankcase. 11 gain or make a point or points, record, tally, account for: George scored a hat trick in the game against Hotspurs. 12 count (for), reckon for or as: The ace scores either 1 or 11 in vingt-et-un. 13 succeed, be successful, triumph, win, make an impression, have an impact, Colloq make a hit: Your plan really scored with the boss. 14 succeed in seducing, Slang make out, get laid: Did you score with Ava last night?
scorn | scorn: n. 1 contumely, contempt, contemptuousness, disdain, deprecation; rejection, dismissal: He treated their demands with the utmost scorn. 2 mockery, derision, derisiveness, sneering, ridicule, scoffing, jeering, taunting: The crowd''s scorn was directed at the politicians who failed to deliver what they had promised. --v. 3 reject, rebuff, disown, disavow, disregard, ignore, shun, snub, flout, contemn, treat with or hold in contempt, have no use for, disdain, spurn, despise, turn up one''s nose at, curl one''s lip at, look down on or upon, look down one''s nose at, thumb one''s nose at, Colloq pooh-pooh, put down, Brit cock a snook at: His parents offered to finance his education, but he scorned their help. 4 mock (at), deride, sneer at, ridicule, scoff at, jeer at, taunt, poke fun at, make fun of, laugh at: People scorned him because he said the earth was round.
scornful | scornful: adj. contumelious, contemptuous, disdainful, deprecative, disparaging, derisory, derisive, snide, supercilious, mocking, sneering, scoffing, haughty, overweening, high-handed, superior, Colloq snooty, Slang snotty: The people were scornful of his attempt to reassure them, and continued to demand action.
scoundrel | scoundrel: n. villain, rogue, wretch, good-for-nothing, scapegrace, blackguard, rascal, scamp, cur, Old-fashioned bounder, cad, knave, Colloq heel, Slang louse, Brit rotter: Politicians tend to treat their opponents as liars and scoundrels.
scour | scour: v. 1 scrub, clean, cleanse, wash, rub, abrade, polish, burnish, buff, shine: The pots were scoured until they shone. 2 scrape (about or around), rake, comb, turn upside down, search, ransack: I scoured the shops looking in vain for the coffee filters you wanted.
scourge | scourge: n. 1 curse, misfortune, bane, evil, affliction, plague, adversity, torment, misery, woe: He questions whether AIDS should be considered the scourge of the 20th century. Was it Attila who proved himself the scourge of Rome? 2 whip, lash, cat-o''-nine-tails, knout, quirt, horsewhip, bull-whip: They saw fit to punish themselves with scourges. --v. 3 whip, flog, beat, lash, horsewhip, whale, belt, flagellate: Some medieval sects scourged themselves as they went in procession through the cities. 4 punish, castigate, chastise, discipline, afflict, torment: In the old days, students were scourged if they made a mistake.
scout | scout: v. 1 Often, scout about or around. reconnoitre, investigate, study, research, examine, explore, spy, search or look (about or around) (for), hunt (about or around) (for), cast around or about (for), Colloq check (about or around): I am going to scout about to find a key that fits. 2 scout up or out. discover, find, locate, uncover, Colloq dig up: I was finally able to scout up a key that fits.
scowl | scowl: v. 1 glower, frown, grimace, glare, look daggers, lower or lour: It''s hard to tell if he''s ever pleased because he''s always scowling. --n. 2 frown, grimace, glare, dirty look: I do wish she would wipe that scowl off her face and try to look more pleasant.
scramble | scramble: v. 1 climb, clamber, crawl, scrabble, struggle: We scrambled up the rocky hillside with the big cat in pursuit. 2 rush, hurry, scamper, run, hasten, race, scurry, scoot, scuttle, dash, hotfoot (it), hustle, Chiefly US and Canadian, hightail (it), Colloq skedaddle: When the siren sounded, we scrambled down to the air raid shelter. 3 Often, scramble up. mix up, confuse, jumble, intermingle, mingle, commingle: Contestants, spectators, and officials were all scrambled together. --n. 4 scrimmage, struggle, tussle, contention, clash, competition, contest, race, rush, clash, conflict, disorder, commotion, riot, m�l�e or melee, pandemonium, Colloq free-for-all, hassle, Brit scrum or scrummage: Thousands were involved in the scramble for tickets to the rock concert. In the scramble for a directorship Jeremy lost. 5 struggle, climb: She twisted her ankle in the scramble over the rocks.
scrap� | scrap�: n. 1 mite, bit, shred, bite, morsel, piece, fragment, shard or sherd, particle, sliver, snippet, snip, crumb, whit, iota, jot or tittle, snatch, drop, drip, grain, speck, molecule, atom, dab, trace, scintilla, hint, suggestion: There wasn''t a scrap of evidence to link him with the crime. 2 scraps. remnants, remains, leftovers, leavings, residue, vestiges, traces, scrapings, discards, rejections, rejects: In the alley, two cats were fighting over some scraps of garbage. 3 waste, debris, rubbish, Colloq junk: Any computer more than five years old isn''t even worth its weight as scrap. --v. 4 discard, throw away, reject, abandon, give up, consign to the scrap heap, forsake, forget, get rid of, dispose of, dispense with, Colloq junk, US trash: If I were you, I would buy a new car and scrap this one.
scrap� | scrap�: n. 1 fight, brawl, fracas, fray, affray, rumpus, scuffle, Donnybrook, battle (royal); row, dispute, argument, quarrel, disagreement, wrangle, squabble, tiff, spat, Colloq ruckus, set-to, dust-up: A terrible scrap broke out in the pub last and the police were called in. Our neighbours were having a scrap about who should take the dog for a walk. --v. 2 fight, brawl, spar, scuffle, battle, row, wrangle, argue, disagree, squabble, bicker: Let''s not scrap over trifles - only important things.
scrapbook | scrapbook: n. album, portfolio, collection: She keeps a scrapbook of reviews of her stage triumphs.
scrape | scrape: v. 1 abrade, graze, scratch, bark, scuff, skin, bruise, damage, injure: I scraped my knee on the pavement when I fell. 2 Often, scrape off or away or out. remove, rub off or away, scour or scrub or clean (off or away), scratch off or away, claw (at or away or out), gouge out, scrabble (at), dig out or away at: As I scraped away the grime, a beautiful mosaic was revealed. Each sled dog scraped out a hole in the snow and snuggled into it. 3 skimp, scrimp (and scrape), save, stint, be frugal or stingy or parsimonious or thrifty, pinch and save or scrape, economize; struggle, US scrabble: Only by scraping were we able to pay the increased taxes. 4 bow and scrape. make obeisance, kowtow, salaam, genuflect, kiss the feet or hem or ring, grovel, demean or lower oneself, prostrate oneself, toady, Colloq boot-lick: He can bow and scrape all he likes, but Jones will get nowhere with the foreman. 5 scrape by or through. get by, cope, (barely) manage, survive, scrape or get along, Colloq squeak by, barely make it: We are just about able to scrape by on the little that Nigel is making. 6 scrape together or up. glean, garner, scratch or get or rake together or up, dredge up, scrabble for, gather, save (up), get hold of, marshal, amass, muster, accumulate, aggregate, compile, pile up, stack up, assemble, Colloq scrounge (up): By the time we finally managed to scrape up enough for a down payment on a house, the prices had gone up. --n. 7 abrasion, bruise, scratch, graze, scuff, damage, injury: He was very annoyed when he found a scrape on his brand-new car. 8 predicament, difficulty, quandary, dilemma, plight, (fine) kettle of fish, muddle, stew, situation, position, pinch, Colloq pickle, fix, mess, the crunch, (tight or tough) spot: I got into a terrible scrape by forgetting our wedding anniversary. Can you lend me some money to help me out of a scrape?
scratch | scratch: v. 1 mar, mark, gouge (out), gash, abrade, graze, scuff, grate against, bruise, damage, injure; claw: If you glue some felt to the bottom, the lamp won''t scratch the table. 2 chafe, rub: If you scratch those mosquito bites you might get an infection. 3 Often, scratch out or off. erase, obliterate, rub out or off, cross out, delete, strike out or off, expunge; exclude, eliminate, US x out: You can scratch my name from the list of candidates. She scratched out what she had written and started again. --n. 4 mark, gouge, gash, abrasion, scrape, graze, scuff, bruise, damage, injury; line: Where did you get that scratch on your face? ''It''s only a scratch'', Sandy protested as they tried to remove the spear from his shoulder. 5 up to scratch. up to standard or par, adequate, sufficient, good enough, competent, satisfactory, competitive, Colloq up to snuff: Cynthia''s performance is not yet up to scratch, so she might not make the team. --adj. 6 hasty, hurried, impromptu, unplanned, haphazard, rough, casual, informal, unprepared, unpremeditated, makeshift, extempore, Colloq off the cuff, US pick-up: We didn''t have time to practise, so we are racing with a scratch crew.
scratchy | scratchy: adj. 1 itchy, irritating, prickly: The pullover was as scratchy as a hair shirt. 2 rough, hoarse, raw, grating, sore, raspy, dry: My throat feels a bit scratchy and I need something to drink.
scrawl | scrawl: n. 1 scribble, Colloq squiggle, US hen-scratch, chicken-scratch: I can''t read that scrawl of his. --v. 2 scribble, scratch, doodle: How do pharmacists read the prescriptions that doctors scrawl?
scrawny | scrawny: adj. bony, skinny, spare, drawn, reedy, haggard, lean, lank(y), scraggy, gaunt, raw-boned, angular, emaciated, cadaverous; anorectic or anorexic: She certainly has changed from that scrawny kid I used to know.
scream | scream: v. 1 shriek, screech, squeal, yowl, wail, caterwaul, howl, cry: She screamed when I applied iodine to the cut. 2 laugh, roar, hoot, howl, guffaw: The women screamed hysterically as the male stripper got down to the bare essentials. --n. 3 shriek, screech, squeal, yowl, wail, caterwaul, howl, cry: When she saw what had happened, she let out a blood-curdling scream. 4 Colloq card, panic, riot, thigh-slapper: Phyllis is such a scream when she talks about the silly things that happen to her.
screen | screen: n. 1 partition, (room) divider, paravent, wall: In their one-room flat a bookcase serves as a screen to separate the living area from the sleeping area. 2 shelter, protection, shield, cover: A row of poplars acts as a screen against the wind. 3 curtain, blind, shroud, cloak, cover; concealment, camouflage: The gauze fabric was too transparent to act as a screen. 4 sieve, mesh, strainer, filter, colander, riddle: The sand has to be shovelled through a screen to get rid of the stones. 5 motion pictures, movies, silver screen; television, small screen, home screen, Colloq box, telly, US boob tube: She is a star of both the big and small screens. --v. 6 partition (off), separate, divide, wall off: Why not use a beaded curtain to screen the kitchen area from the dining-room? 7 shelter, protect, shield, cover, guard, conceal, camouflage, mask, veil, hide: A decorative pierced wall screens the ladies of the harem from the prying eyes of visitors. 8 sift, separate (out), sort (out), filter, select, cull, process, interview, evaluate, grade, gauge, qualify, examine, scan, Chiefly Brit vet: The agency screens all candidates before sending them to see a client.
screw | screw: n. 1 bolt, screw-bolt, machine screw, lag-bolt, lag-screw: This screw is too small to hold that door hinge. 2 helix, spiral, corkscrew: The screw of a spiral staircase should not be too small for safety. 3 sexual intercourse; sexual partner, Slang lay, Taboo slang fuck: When arrested for kerb-crawling, he said that he was just looking for a screw. 4 put the screws on (someone). pressure, influence, force, constrain, press, oblige, require, demand, coerce, compel, apply pressure, bring pressure to bear (on); insist; Chiefly Brit pressurize, Colloq twist (someone''s) arm, put the squeeze on (someone): I believe that someone put the screws on him to leave town. --v. 5 twist, turn, rotate: Screw the bolt in clockwise. 6 Often, screw out of. defraud, cheat, swindle, gull, bilk, do out of, Slang take, clip, fleece: They screwed him by convincing him that the bonds were real. He was screwed out of all his savings. 7 screw up. a raise, increase, stretch, strain; summon, call up, call upon, tap, draw on or upon: I screwed up my courage to ask for a salary increase. b ruin, destroy, make a mess of, botch, bungle, muddle, mismanage, mishandle, Colloq make a hash of, Slang louse up, Brit make a muck-up of, US bollix up, Taboo slang fuck up, Brit bugger up, ballocks or bollocks up, make a balls-up of: It is hard to see how they could have screwed up such a simple operation. c contort, twist, deform, warp: At the suggestion of cauliflower, Ambrose screwed up his face in displeasure.
scribe | scribe: n. 1 copyist, copier, transcriber, Archaic scrivener; amanuensis, clerk, secretary: Before the invention of movable type printing, copies of books and documents were prepared by scribes. 2 writer, author, penman, scrivener, wordsmith, scribbler, hack, penny-a-liner; dramatist, dramaturge, playwright, poet, novelist, essayist, columnist, technical writer; journalist, gentleman or lady of the press, newspaperman, newspaperwoman, reporter, rewrite man or woman or person, editor, reviewer, commentator, newswriter, sob sister, agony aunt or uncle, Miss Lonelyhearts, gossip columnist, member of the fourth estate, Brit paragraphist, leader-writer, US Grub Streeter, Colloq Brit journo: In a general way, he refers to all writers as ''scribes'', but particularly those he considers a bit old-fashioned. --v. 3 inscribe, incise, etch, engrave, mark, scratch, score, grave, scrimshaw, carve, chase or enchase: The shotgun was scribed with the most beautiful designs, some inlaid in gold.
scrimmage | scrimmage: n. skirmish, scuffle, fray, affray, disturbance, brouhaha, m�l�e or melee, riot, row, brawl, struggle, scramble, tussle, fracas, rumpus, Donnybrook, battle, fight, Colloq ruckus, set-to, dust-up, free-for-all, scrap, Brit scrum or scrummage, Slang Brit (bit of) bovver: The police were called when what started as a minor scrimmage began to develop into a riot.
script | script: n. 1 handwriting, hand, (cursive) writing, penmanship; calligraphy: These love-letters are written in an unusually beautiful script. 2 manuscript, scenario, book, play, screenplay, teleplay, libretto, continuity: Stick to the script - I don''t want you ad libbing! --v. 3 write, pen, prepare, create: The new series was scripted by the same writer who wrote ''Out in the Outback''. 4 plan, organize, design, arrange, lay out, order, configure, pattern: The take-over of the company had not been scripted in their business forecasts.
scripture | Scripture: n. Scriptures, sacred writings, Bible, Good Book, Holy Writ or Scripture(s), Word of God, Gospel(s); Book of Mormon; Koran; Upanishad(s), Bhagavad-Gita: Throughout his life, he did only those things approved in Scripture.
scrounge | scrounge: v. 1 ferret out, seek out, nose or smell out, come up with, scrape together or up, scratch up; importune, cadge, beg (, borrow, or steal), Colloq US freeload, bum: Did Hedley try to scrounge some money from you, too? --n. 2 scrounger, cadger, parasite, Colloq sponger, US freeloader: Hedley, that scrounge, has just asked me for a cigarette.
scrub | scrub: v. 1 See scour, 1, above. 2 cancel, call off, abort, scratch, drop, terminate, give up, end, abandon, stop, cease, discontinue, do away with: Something went wrong with the fuel computer, so they scrubbed today''s satellite launch.
scruple | scruple: n. 1 compunction, qualm, reluctance, misgiving, second thoughts, doubt, (twinge of) conscience, hesitation, uneasiness, discomfort, squeamishness: Peter hadn''t the slightest scruple about taking the money from his aunt. --v. 2 pause, falter, hesitate, vacillate, have doubts or compunction (about), demur, waver, shrink from or at, have misgivings or qualms (about or over), be loath or loth (to), think twice (about), stick at, be reluctant, balk (at), have scruples (about): Susan didn''t scruple for a moment about keeping the money she found in the street.
scrupulous | scrupulous: adj. 1 careful, cautious, meticulous, exacting, precise, over-nice, strict, rigid, rigorous, severe, critical, fastidious, neat, conscientious, finicky or finical, fussy, painstaking, punctilious: Andrew has always been scrupulous about his toys, his books, his clothes, etc. 2 ethical, honourable, upstanding, moral, righteous, principled, high-minded, just: Meg was always scrupulous in her business dealings.
scrutinize | scrutinize: v. examine, analyse, dissect, investigate, probe, study, inspect, sift, go over or through, check: I have scrutinized the results of the blood tests and can find nothing abnormal.
scrutiny | scrutiny: n. examination, analysis, investigation, probe, probing, study, inspection, sifting, inquiry or enquiry, exploration, check: The tax inspectors have subjected the company books to close scrutiny but have found nothing amiss.
scud | scud: v. fly, skim, race, scoot, speed, shoot: We scudded along in the catamaran at a good 30 knots.
sculpture | sculpture: n. 1 figure, figurine, statue, statuette, group, head, bust, relief; bronze, marble: His favourite sculpture is Rodin''s Burghers of Calais . --v. 2 sculpt or sculp, model, model, chisel, carve, cast, form, fashion: The students are learning how to sculpture in clay.
scurrilous | scurrilous: adj. foul-mouthed, thersitical, gross, indecent, profane, Fescennine, vulgar, obscene, licentious, Sotadean or Sotadic, foul, vituperative, low, coarse, scabrous, vile, nasty, defamatory, derogatory, disparaging, vilifying, calumnious or calumniatory, malign, aspersive, opprobrious, offensive, abusive, insulting: Clifford was an inveterate collector of scurrilous limericks.
scurry | scurry: v. dash, scramble, scamper, scoot, dart, fly, race, sprint, scuttle, hurry, hasten, speed, hustle, rush, tear, zoom, zip, bolt, rip, scud: A rat scurried across the floor. We went scurrying round the shops on Christmas Eve.
scurvy | scurvy: adj. low, miserable, contemptible, vile, base, despicable, rotten, sorry, bad, ignoble, dishonourable, mean, worthless, shabby: Robbing poor old ladies is a pretty scurvy activity.
