| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| scala | noun | A machine formerly employed for reducing dislocations of the humerus., A term applied to any one of the three canals of the cochlea. |
| scald | verb t. | To burn with hot liquid or steam; to pain or injure by contact with, or immersion in, any hot fluid; as, to scald the hand., To expose to a boiling or violent heat over a fire, or in hot water or other liquor; as, to scald milk or meat., A burn, or injury to the skin or flesh, by some hot liquid, or by steam., Affected with the scab; scabby., Scurvy; paltry; as, scald rhymers., Scurf on the head. See Scall., One of the ancient Scandinavian poets and historiographers; a reciter and singer of heroic poems, eulogies, etc., among the Norsemen; more rarely, a bard of any of the ancient Teutonic tribes. |
| scale | noun | The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; — chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively., The sign or constellation Libra., To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system., One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid., Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc., One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera., A scale insect. (See below.), A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns., The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife., An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler., The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals., To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler., To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface., To scatter; to spread., To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder., To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae; as, some sandstone scales by exposure., To separate; to scatter., A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending., Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals., A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See Gunter’s scale., A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan., A basis for a numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc., The graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave; — called also the gamut. It may be repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic, Diatonic, Major, and Minor., Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being., Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile., To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort., To lead up by steps; to ascend. |
| scall | adjective | A scurf or scabby disease, especially of the scalp., Scabby; scurfy. |
| scalp | noun | A bed of oysters or mussels., That part of the integument of the head which is usually covered with hair., A part of the skin of the head, with the hair attached, cut or torn off from an enemy by the Indian warriors of North America, as a token of victory., Fig.: The top; the summit., To deprive of the scalp; to cut or tear the scalp from the head of., To remove the skin of., To brush the hairs or fuzz from, as wheat grains, in the process of high milling., To make a small, quick profit by slight fluctuations of the market; — said of brokers who operate in this way on their own account. |
| scaly | adjective | Covered or abounding with scales; as, a scaly fish., Resembling scales, laminae, or layers., Mean; low; as, a scaly fellow., Composed of scales lying over each other; as, a scaly bulb; covered with scales; as, a scaly stem. |
| scamp | noun | A rascal; a swindler; a rogue., To perform in a hasty, neglectful, or imperfect manner; to do superficially. |
| scant | superl. | Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a scant pattern of cloth for a garment., Sparing; parsimonious; chary., To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as, to scant one in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use of necessaries., To cut short; to make small, narrow, or scanty; to curtail., To fail, or become less; to scantle; as, the wind scants., In a scant manner; with difficulty; scarcely; hardly., Scantness; scarcity. |
| scape | noun | A peduncle rising from the ground or from a subterranean stem, as in the stemless violets, the bloodroot, and the like., The long basal joint of the antennae of an insect., The shaft of a column., The apophyge of a shaft., To escape., An escape., Means of escape; evasion., A freak; a slip; a fault; an escapade., Loose act of vice or lewdness. |
| scard | noun | A shard or fragment. |
| scare | verb t. | To frighten; to strike with sudden fear; to alarm., Fright; esp., sudden fright produced by a trifling cause, or originating in mistake. |
| scarf | noun | A cormorant., An article of dress of a light and decorative character, worn loosely over the shoulders or about the neck or the waist; a light shawl or handkerchief for the neck; also, a cravat; a neckcloth., To throw on loosely; to put on like a scarf., To dress with a scarf, or as with a scarf; to cover with a loose wrapping., To form a scarf on the end or edge of, as for a joint in timber, metal rods, etc., To unite, as two pieces of timber or metal, by a scarf joint., In a piece which is to be united to another by a scarf joint, the part of the end or edge that is tapered off, rabbeted, or notched so as to be thinner than the rest of the piece., A scarf joint. |
| scarn | noun | Dung. |
| scarp | noun | A band in the same position as the bend sinister, but only half as broad as the latter., The slope of the ditch nearest the parapet; the escarp., A steep descent or declivity., To cut down perpendicularly, or nearly so; as, to scarp the face of a ditch or a rock. |
| scary | noun | Barren land having only a thin coat of grass., Subject to sudden alarm., Causing fright; alarming. |
| scatt | noun | Tribute. |
| scate | noun | See Skate, for the foot. |
| scath | verb | Harm; damage; injury; hurt; waste; misfortune., To do harm to; to injure; to damage; to waste; to destroy. |
| scaup | noun | A bed or stratum of shellfish; scalp., A scaup duck. See below. |
| scaur | noun | A precipitous bank or rock; a scar. |
| scena | noun | A scene in an opera., An accompanied dramatic recitative, interspersed with passages of melody, or followed by a full aria. |
| scene | noun | The structure on which a spectacle or play is exhibited; the part of a theater in which the acting is done, with its adjuncts and decorations; the stage., The decorations and fittings of a stage, representing the place in which the action is supposed to go on; one of the slides, or other devices, used to give an appearance of reality to the action of a play; as, to paint scenes; to shift the scenes; to go behind the scenes., So much of a play as passes without change of locality or time, or important change of character; hence, a subdivision of an act; a separate portion of a play, subordinate to the act, but differently determined in different plays; as, an act of four scenes., The place, time, circumstance, etc., in which anything occurs, or in which the action of a story, play, or the like, is laid; surroundings amid which anything is set before the imagination; place of occurrence, exhibition, or action., An assemblage of objects presented to the view at once; a series of actions and events exhibited in their connection; a spectacle; a show; an exhibition; a view., A landscape, or part of a landscape; scenery., An exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before others; often, an artifical or affected action, or course of action, done for effect; a theatrical display., To exhibit as a scene; to make a scene of; to display. |
| scent | verb t. | To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as a hound does., To imbue or fill with odor; to perfume., To have a smell., To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell., That which, issuing from a body, affects the olfactory organs of animals; odor; smell; as, the scent of an orange, or of a rose; the scent of musk., Specifically, the odor left by an animal on the ground in passing over it; as, dogs find or lose the scent; hence, course of pursuit; track of discovery., The power of smelling; the sense of smell; as, a hound of nice scent; to divert the scent. |
| scern | verb t. | To discern; to perceive. |
| schah | noun | See Shah. |
| scink | noun | A skink., A slunk calf. |
| scion | noun | A shoot or sprout of a plant; a sucker., A piece of a slender branch or twig cut for grafting., Hence, a descendant; an heir; as, a scion of a royal stock. |
| sciot | adjective | Of or pertaining to the island Scio (Chio or Chios)., A native or inhabitant of Scio. |
| scise | verb i. | To cut; to penetrate. |
| sclav | noun | Alt. of Sclave |
| scoat | verb t. | To prop; to scotch. |
| scobs | noun sing. & pl. | Raspings of ivory, hartshorn, metals, or other hard substance., The dross of metals. |
| scoff | noun | Derision; ridicule; mockery; derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach., An object of scorn, mockery, or derision., To show insolent ridicule or mockery; to manifest contempt by derisive acts or language; — often with at., To treat or address with derision; to assail scornfully; to mock at. |
| scoke | noun | Poke (Phytolacca decandra). |
| scold | verb i. | To find fault or rail with rude clamor; to brawl; to utter harsh, rude, boisterous rebuke; to chide sharply or coarsely; — often with at; as, to scold at a servant., To chide with rudeness and clamor; to rate; also, to rebuke or reprove with severity., One who scolds, or makes a practice of scolding; esp., a rude, clamorous woman; a shrew., A scolding; a brawl. |
| scole | noun | School. |
| scomm | noun | A buffoon., A flout; a jeer; a gibe; a taunt. |
| scone | noun | A cake, thinner than a bannock, made of wheat or barley or oat meal. |
| scoop | noun | A large ladle; a vessel with a long handle, used for dipping liquids; a utensil for bailing boats., A deep shovel, or any similar implement for digging out and dipping or shoveling up anything; as, a flour scoop; the scoop of a dredging machine., A spoon-shaped instrument, used in extracting certain substances or foreign bodies., A place hollowed out; a basinlike cavity; a hollow., A sweep; a stroke; a swoop., The act of scooping, or taking with a scoop or ladle; a motion with a scoop, as in dipping or shoveling., To take out or up with, a scoop; to lade out., To empty by lading; as, to scoop a well dry., To make hollow, as a scoop or dish; to excavate; to dig out; to form by digging or excavation. |
| scoot | verb i. | To walk fast; to go quickly; to run hastily away. |
| scope | noun | That at which one aims; the thing or end to which the mind directs its view; that which is purposed to be reached or accomplished; hence, ultimate design, aim, or purpose; intention; drift; object., Room or opportunity for free outlook or aim; space for action; amplitude of opportunity; free course or vent; liberty; range of view, intent, or action., Extended area., Length; extent; sweep; as, scope of cable., To look at for the purpose of evaluation; usually with out; as, to scope out the area as a camping site. |
| score | noun | A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account., An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; hence, indebtedness., Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf., The number twenty, as being marked off by a special score or tally; hence, in pl., a large number., A distance of twenty yards; — a term used in ancient archery and gunnery., A weight of twenty pounds., The number of points gained by the contestants, or either of them, in any game, as in cards or cricket., A line drawn; a groove or furrow., The original and entire draught, or its transcript, of a composition, with the parts for all the different instruments or voices written on staves one above another, so that they can be read at a glance; — so called from the bar, which, in its early use, was drawn through all the parts., To mark with lines, scratches, or notches; to cut notches or furrows in; to notch; to scratch; to furrow; as, to score timber for hewing; to score the back with a lash., Especially, to mark with significant lines or notches, for indicating or keeping account of something; as, to score a tally., To mark or signify by lines or notches; to keep record or account of; to set down; to record; to charge., To engrave, as upon a shield., To make a score of, as points, runs, etc., in a game., To write down in proper order and arrangement; as, to score an overture for an orchestra. See Score, n., 9., To mark with parallel lines or scratches; as, the rocks of New England and the Western States were scored in the drift epoch. |
| scorn | noun | Extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard; that disdain which springs from the opinion of the utter meanness and unworthiness of an object., An act or expression of extreme contempt., An object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision., To hold in extreme contempt; to reject as unworthy of regard; to despise; to contemn; to disdain., To treat with extreme contempt; to make the object of insult; to mock; to scoff at; to deride., To scoff; to mock; to show contumely, derision, or reproach; to act disdainfully. |
| scoth | verb t. | To clothe or cover up. |
| scots | adjective | Of or pertaining to the Scotch; Scotch; Scottish; as, Scots law; a pound Scots (1s. 8d.). |
| scour | verb t. | To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease, dirt, etc., as articles of dress., To purge; as, to scour a horse., To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off; to carry away or remove, as by a current of water; — often with off or away., To pass swiftly over; to brush along; to traverse or search thoroughly; as, to scour the coast., To clean anything by rubbing., To cleanse anything., To be purged freely; to have a diarrhoea., To run swiftly; to rove or range in pursuit or search of something; to scamper., Diarrhoea or dysentery among cattle. |
| scout | noun | A swift sailing boat., A projecting rock., To reject with contempt, as something absurd; to treat with ridicule; to flout; as, to scout an idea or an apology., A person sent out to gain and bring in tidings; especially, one employed in war to gain information of the movements and condition of an enemy., A college student’s or undergraduate’s servant; — so called in Oxford, England; at Cambridge called a gyp; and at Dublin, a skip., A fielder in a game for practice., The act of scouting or reconnoitering., To observe, watch, or look for, as a scout; to follow for the purpose of observation, as a scout., To pass over or through, as a scout; to reconnoiter; as, to scout a country., To go on the business of scouting, or watching the motions of an enemy; to act as a scout. |
| scowl | verb i. | To wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry., Hence, to look gloomy, dark, or threatening; to lower., To look at or repel with a scowl or a frown., To express by a scowl; as, to scowl defiance., The wrinkling of the brows or face in frowing; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown., Hence, gloom; dark or threatening aspect. |
| scrag | noun | Something thin, lean, or rough; a bony piece; especially, a bony neckpiece of meat; hence, humorously or in contempt, the neck., A rawboned person., A ragged, stunted tree or branch. |
| scrap | verb t. | Something scraped off; hence, a small piece; a bit; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion., Specifically, a fragment of something written or printed; a brief excerpt; an unconnected extract., The crisp substance that remains after drying out animal fat; as, pork scraps., Same as Scrap iron, below. |
| scrat | verb t. | To scratch., To rake; to search., An hermaphrodite. |
| scraw | noun | A turf. |
| scray | noun | A tern; the sea swallow. |
| scree | noun | A pebble; a stone; also, a heap of stones or rocky debris. |
| screw | noun | A cylinder, or a cylindrical perforation, having a continuous rib, called the thread, winding round it spirally at a constant inclination, so as to leave a continuous spiral groove between one turn and the next, — used chiefly for producing, when revolved, motion or pressure in the direction of its axis, by the sliding of the threads of the cylinder in the grooves between the threads of the perforation adapted to it, the former being distinguished as the external, or male screw, or, more usually the screw; the latter as the internal, or female screw, or, more usually, the nut., Specifically, a kind of nail with a spiral thread and a head with a nick to receive the end of the screw-driver. Screws are much used to hold together pieces of wood or to fasten something; — called also wood screws, and screw nails. See also Screw bolt, below., Anything shaped or acting like a screw; esp., a form of wheel for propelling steam vessels. It is placed at the stern, and furnished with blades having helicoidal surfaces to act against the water in the manner of a screw. See Screw propeller, below., A steam vesel propelled by a screw instead of wheels; a screw steamer; a propeller., An extortioner; a sharp bargainer; a skinflint; a niggard., An instructor who examines with great or unnecessary severity; also, a searching or strict examination of a student by an instructor., A small packet of tobacco., An unsound or worn-out horse, useful as a hack, and commonly of good appearance., A straight line in space with which a definite linear magnitude termed the pitch is associated (cf. 5th Pitch, 10 (b)). It is used to express the displacement of a rigid body, which may always be made to consist of a rotation about an axis combined with a translation parallel to that axis., An amphipod crustacean; as, the skeleton screw (Caprella). See Sand screw, under Sand., To turn, as a screw; to apply a screw to; to press, fasten, or make firm, by means of a screw or screws; as, to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press., To force; to squeeze; to press, as by screws., Hence: To practice extortion upon; to oppress by unreasonable or extortionate exactions., To twist; to distort; as, to screw his visage., To examine rigidly, as a student; to subject to a severe examination., To use violent mans in making exactions; to be oppressive or exacting., To turn one’s self uneasily with a twisting motion; as, he screws about in his chair. |
| scrid | noun | A screed; a shred; a fragment. |
| scrim | noun | A kind of light cotton or linen fabric, often woven in openwork patterns, — used for curtains, etc,; — called also India scrim., Thin canvas glued on the inside of panels to prevent shrinking, checking, etc. |
| scrip | noun | A small bag; a wallet; a satchel., A small writing, certificate, or schedule; a piece of paper containing a writing., A preliminary certificate of a subscription to the capital of a bank, railroad, or other company, or for a share of other joint property, or a loan, stating the amount of the subscription and the date of the payment of the installments; as, insurance scrip, consol scrip, etc. When all the installments are paid, the scrip is exchanged for a bond share certificate., Paper fractional currency. |
| scrit | noun | Writing; document; scroll. |
| scrod | noun | Alt. of Scrode |
| scrog | noun | A stunted shrub, bush, or branch. |
| scrow | noun | A scroll., A clipping from skins; a currier’s cuttings. |
| scrub | verb t. | To rub hard; to wash with rubbing; usually, to rub with a wet brush, or with something coarse or rough, for the purpose of cleaning or brightening; as, to scrub a floor, a doorplate., To rub anything hard, especially with a wet brush; to scour; hence, to be diligent and penurious; as, to scrub hard for a living., One who labors hard and lives meanly; a mean fellow., Something small and mean., A worn-out brush., A thicket or jungle, often specified by the name of the prevailing plant; as, oak scrub, palmetto scrub, etc., One of the common live stock of a region of no particular breed or not of pure breed, esp. when inferior in size, etc., Mean; dirty; contemptible; scrubby. |
| scudi | plural | of Scudo |
| scudo | noun | A silver coin, and money of account, used in Italy and Sicily, varying in value, in different parts, but worth about 4 shillings sterling, or about 96 cents; also, a gold coin worth about the same., A gold coin of Rome, worth 64 shillings 11 pence sterling, or about $ 15.70. |
| scuff | noun | The back part of the neck; the scruff., To walk without lifting the feet; to proceed with a scraping or dragging movement; to shuffle. |
| sculk | Alt. of Sculker | |
| scull | noun | The skull., A shoal of fish., A boat; a cockboat. See Sculler., One of a pair of short oars worked by one person., A single oar used at the stern in propelling a boat., The common skua gull., To impel (a boat) with a pair of sculls, or with a single scull or oar worked over the stern obliquely from side to side., To impel a boat with a scull or sculls. |
| sculp | verb t. | To sculpture; to carve; to engrave. |
| scurf | noun | Thin dry scales or scabs upon the body; especially, thin scales exfoliated from the cuticle, particularly of the scalp; dandruff., Hence, the foul remains of anything adherent., Anything like flakes or scales adhering to a surface., Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot. |
| scuta | noun pl. | See Scutum., of Scutum |
| scute | noun | A small shield., An old French gold coin of the value of 3s. 4d. sterling, or about 80 cents., A bony scale of a reptile or fish; a large horny scale on the leg of a bird, or on the belly of a snake. |
| scyle | verb t. | To hide; to secrete; to conceal. |