3 N‑COUNT A scoop is an object like a spoon which is used for picking up a quantity of a food such as ice cream or an ingredient such as flour. □ …a small ice-cream scoop.
4 N‑COUNT You can use scoop to refer to an exciting news story which is reported in one newspaper or on one television programme before it appears anywhere else. □ …one of the biggest scoops in the history of newspapers.
5 VERB If a newspaper scoops other newspapers, it succeeds in printing an exciting or important story before they do. □ [V n] All the newspapers really want to do is scoop the opposition.
6 VERB If you scoop a prize or award, you win it. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] …films which scooped awards around the world.
▸ scoop up PHRASAL VERB If you scoop something up , you put your hands or arms under it and lift it in a quick movement. □ [V P n] Use both hands to scoop up the leaves. □ [V n P ] He began to scoop his things up frantically.
scoot /skuː t/ (scoots , scooting , scooted ) VERB If you scoot somewhere, you go there very quickly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V prep/adv] Sam said, 'I'm going to hide,' and scooted up the stairs. [Also V ]
scoot|er /skuː tə r / (scooters )
1 N‑COUNT A scooter is a small light motorcycle which has a low seat.
2 N‑COUNT A scooter is a type of child's bicycle which has two wheels joined by a wooden board and a handle on a long pole attached to the front wheel. The child stands on the board with one foot, and uses the other foot to move forwards.
scope /skoʊ p/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [N to-inf] If there is scope for a particular kind of behaviour or activity, people have the opportunity to behave in this way or do that activity. □ [+ for ] He believed in giving his staff scope for initiative. □ Banks had increased scope to develop new financial products.
2 N‑SING The scope of an activity, topic, or piece of work is the whole area which it deals with or includes. □ [+ of ] Mr Dobson promised to widen the organisation's scope of activity.
scorch /skɔː r tʃ/ (scorches , scorching , scorched )
1 VERB To scorch something means to burn it slightly. □ [V n] The bomb scorched the side of the building. ● scorched ADJ □ …scorched black earth.
2 VERB If something scorches or is scorched , it becomes marked or changes colour because it is affected by too much heat or by a chemical. □ [V ] The leaves are inclined to scorch in hot sunshine. □ [V n] If any of the spray goes onto the lawn it will scorch the grass.
sco rched ea rth N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] A scorched earth policy is the deliberate burning, destruction, and removal by an army of everything that would be useful to an enemy coming into the area. □ He employed a scorched-earth policy, destroying villages and burning crops.
scorch|ing /skɔː r tʃ I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Scorching or scorching hot weather or temperatures are very hot indeed. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ That race was run in scorching weather.
score ◆◆◇ /skɔː r / (scores , scoring , scored ) In meaning 10 , the plural form is score . 1 VERB In a sport or game, if a player scores a goal or a point, they gain a goal or point. □ [V n] He scored three goals in the first three minutes. □ [V n] England scored 282 in their first innings. □ [V ] Gascoigne almost scored in the opening minute.
2 VERB If you score a particular number or amount, for example as a mark in a test, you achieve that number or amount. □ [V n] Kelly had scored an average of 147 on three separate IQ tests. □ [V adv] Congress as an institution scores low in public opinion polls.
3 N‑COUNT Someone's score in a game or test is a number, for example, a number of points or runs, which shows what they have achieved or what level they have reached. □ [+ of ] The 26-year-old finished ninth with a score of 100.985. □ There was a strong link between parents' numeracy and children's maths scores.
4 N‑COUNT The score in a game is the result of it or the current situation, as indicated by the number of goals, runs, or points obtained by the two teams or players. □ 4-1 was the final score. □ [+ of ] They beat the Giants by a score of 7 to 3.
5 VERB If you score a success, a victory, or a hit, you are successful in what you are doing. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] In recent months, the rebels have scored some significant victories.
6 N‑COUNT The score of a film, play, or similar production is the music which is written or used for it. □ The dance is accompanied by an original score by Henry Torgue.
7 N‑COUNT The score of a piece of music is the written version of it. □ He recognizes enough notation to be able to follow a score.
8 QUANT If you refer to scores of things or people, you are emphasizing that there are very many of them. [WRITTEN , EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] Campaigners lit scores of bonfires in ceremonies to mark the anniversary.
9 NUM A score is twenty or approximately twenty. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] A score of countries may be producing or planning to obtain chemical weapons.
10 VERB If you score a surface with something sharp, you cut a line or number of lines in it. □ [V n] Lightly score the surface of the steaks with a knife.
11 PHRASE If you keep score of the number of things that are happening in a certain situation, you count them and record them. □ [+ of ] You can keep score of your baby's movements before birth by recording them on a kick chart.