scan|dal ◆◇◇ /skæ nd ə l/ (scandals )
1 N‑COUNT A scandal is a situation or event that is thought to be shocking and immoral and that everyone knows about. □ …a financial scandal.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Scandal is talk about the shocking and immoral aspects of someone's behaviour or something that has happened. □ He loved gossip and scandal.
3 N‑SING [oft N that] If you say that something is a scandal , you are angry about it and think that the people responsible for it should be ashamed. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is a scandal that a person can be stopped for no reason by the police. COLLOCATIONS scandal NOUN 1
noun + scandal : accounting, corruption, drugs, sex
adjective + scandal : corporate, financial, political, public
verb + scandal : expose, uncover; investigate; cause
scan|dal|ize /skæ ndəla I z/ (scandalizes , scandalizing , scandalized ) in BRIT, also use scandalise VERB If something scandalizes people, they are shocked or offended by it. □ [V n] She scandalised her family by falling in love with a married man.
scan|dal|ous /skæ ndələs/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Scandalous behaviour or activity is considered immoral and shocking. □ He spoke of scandalous corruption and incompetence. ● scan|dal|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He asked only that Ingrid stop behaving so scandalously.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Scandalous stories or remarks are concerned with the immoral and shocking aspects of someone's behaviour or something that has happened. □ Newspaper columns were full of scandalous tales.
3 ADJ You can describe something as scandalous if it makes you very angry and you think the people responsible for it should be ashamed. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is absolutely scandalous that a fantastic building like this is just left to rot away. □ …a scandalous waste of money.
sca n|dal sheet (scandal sheets ) N‑COUNT You can refer to newspapers and magazines which print mainly stories about sex and crime as scandal sheets . [AM ] in BRIT, use gutter press
Scan|di|na|vian /skæ nd I ne I viən/ (Scandinavians )
1 ADJ Scandinavian means belonging or relating to a group of northern European countries that includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, or to the people, languages, or culture of those countries. □ The school starting age in many Scandinavian countries is 7.
2 N‑COUNT Scandinavians are people from Scandinavian countries.
scan|ner /skæ nə r / (scanners )
1 N‑COUNT A scanner is a machine which is used to examine, identify, or record things, for example by using a beam of light, sound, or X-rays. □ …brain scanners. □ …a security scanner that can see through clothes.
2 N‑COUNT A scanner is a piece of computer equipment that you use for copying a picture or document onto a computer. [COMPUTING ]
scant /skæ nt/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use scant to indicate that there is very little of something or not as much of something as there should be. □ She began to berate the police for paying scant attention to the theft from her car.
2 ADJ If you describe an amount as scant , you are emphasizing that it is small. [EMPHASIS ] □ This hole was a scant .23 inches in diameter.
scanty /skæ nti/ (scantier , scantiest )
1 ADJ You describe something as scanty when there is less of it than you think there should be. □ So far, what scanty evidence we have points to two suspects.
2 ADJ If someone is wearing scanty clothing, he or she is wearing clothes which are sexually revealing. □ …a model in scanty clothing. ● scanti|ly ADV [ADV -ed/adj] □ …a troupe of scantily-clad dancers.
scape|goat /ske I pgoʊt/ (scapegoats , scapegoating , scapegoated )
1 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is made a scapegoat for something bad that has happened, you mean that people blame them and may punish them for it although it may not be their fault. □ [+ for ] I don't deserve to be made the scapegoat for a couple of bad results.
2 VERB To scapegoat someone means to blame them publicly for something bad that has happened, even though it was not their fault. □ [be V -ed] Ethnic minorities are continually scapegoated for the lack of jobs.
scapu|la /skæ pjʊlə/ (scapulae ) N‑COUNT Your scapula is your shoulder blade. [MEDICAL ]
scar /skɑː r / (scars , scarring , scarred )
1 N‑COUNT A scar is a mark on the skin which is left after a wound has healed. □ [+ on ] He had a scar on his forehead. □ …facial injuries which have left permanent scars.
2 VERB [usu passive] If your skin is scarred , it is badly marked as a result of a wound. □ [be V -ed] He was scarred for life during a pub fight. □ [V -ed] His scarred face crumpled with pleasure.
3 VERB [usu passive] If a surface is scarred , it is damaged and there are ugly marks on it. □ [be V -ed] The arena was scarred by deep muddy ruts. □ [V -ed] …scarred wooden table tops.
4 N‑COUNT If an unpleasant physical or emotional experience leaves a scar on someone, it has a permanent effect on their mind. □ [+ on ] The early years of fear and the hostility left a deep scar on the young boy.