Sco tch e gg (Scotch eggs ) N‑COUNT A Scotch egg is a hard-boiled egg that is covered with sausage meat and breadcrumbs, then fried. [mainly BRIT ]
Sco tch-I rish ADJ If someone, especially an American, is Scotch-Irish , they are descended from both Scottish and Irish people, especially from Scottish people who had settled in Northern Ireland. [mainly AM ] ● N‑PLURAL Scotch-Irish is also a noun. □ The first great wave of Scotch-Irish emigration began with the failed harvest of 1717.
Sco tch ta pe N‑UNCOUNT Scotch tape is a clear sticky tape that is sold in rolls and that you use to stick paper or card together or onto a wall. [TRADEMARK ]
sco t-free ADV [ADV after v] If you say that someone got away scot-free , you are emphasizing that they escaped punishment for something that you believe they should have been punished for. [EMPHASIS ] □ Others who were guilty were being allowed to get off scot-free.
Scots|man /skɒ tsmən/ (Scotsmen ) N‑COUNT A Scotsman is a man of Scottish origin.
Scots|woman /skɒ tswʊmən/ (Scotswomen ) N‑COUNT A Scotswoman is a woman of Scottish origin.
Scot|tish /skɒ t I ʃ/ ADJ Scottish means belonging or relating to Scotland, its people, language, or culture.
scoun|drel /skaʊ ndrəl/ (scoundrels ) N‑COUNT If you refer to a man as a scoundrel , you mean that he behaves very badly towards other people, especially by cheating them or deceiving them. [OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He is a lying scoundrel!
scour /skaʊə r / (scours , scouring , scoured )
1 VERB If you scour something such as a place or a book, you make a thorough search of it to try to find what you are looking for. □ [V n] Rescue crews had scoured an area of 30 square miles. □ [V n + for ] We scoured the telephone directory for clues.
2 VERB If you scour something such as a sink, floor, or pan, you clean its surface by rubbing it hard with something rough. □ [V n] He decided to scour the sink.
scourge /skɜː r dʒ/ (scourges , scourging , scourged )
1 N‑COUNT A scourge is something that causes a lot of trouble or suffering to a group of people. □ [+ of ] Union chiefs demanded more urgent action to stop the scourge of unemployment.
2 VERB If something scourges a place or group of people, it causes great pain and suffering to people. □ [V n] Economic anarchy scourged the post-war world.
scout /skaʊ t/ (scouts , scouting , scouted )
1 N‑COUNT A scout is someone who is sent to an area of countryside to find out the position of an enemy army. □ They sent two men out in front as scouts.
2 VERB If you scout somewhere for something, you go through that area searching for it. □ [V n + for ] I wouldn't have time to scout the area for junk. □ [V + for ] A team of four was sent to scout for a nuclear test site. □ [V n] I have people scouting the hills already.
▸ scout around in BRIT, also use scout round PHRASAL VERB If you scout around or scout round for something, you go to different places looking for it. □ [V P + for ] They scouted around for more fuel. □ [V P ] I scouted round in the bushes.
Scout /skaʊ t/ (Scouts )
1 N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] The Scouts is an organization for children and young people which teaches them to be practical, sensible, and helpful.
2 N‑COUNT A Scout is a member of the Scouts. □ …a party of seven Scouts and three leaders on a camping trip.
scout|master /skaʊ tmɑːstə r , -mæs-/ (scoutmasters ) N‑COUNT A scoutmaster is a man who is in charge of a troop of Scouts.
scowl /skaʊ l/ (scowls , scowling , scowled ) VERB When someone scowls , an angry or hostile expression appears on their face. □ [V ] He scowled, and slammed the door behind him. □ [V + at ] She scowled at the two men as they entered the room. ● N‑COUNT Scowl is also a noun. □ Chris met the remark with a scowl.
scrab|ble /skræ b ə l/ (scrabbles , scrabbling , scrabbled )
1 VERB If you scrabble for something, especially something that you cannot see, you move your hands or your feet about quickly and hurriedly in order to find it. □ [V + for ] He grabbed his jacket and scrabbled in his desk drawer for some loose change. □ [V to-inf] I hung there, scrabbling with my feet to find a foothold. ● PHRASAL VERB Scrabble around or scrabble about means the same as scrabble . □ [V P + for ] Alberg scrabbled around for pen and paper. □ [V P ] Gleb scrabbled about in the hay, pulled out a book and opened it.
2 VERB If you say that someone is scrabbling to do something, you mean that they are having difficulty because they are in too much of a hurry, or because the task is almost impossible. □ [V to-inf] The banks are now desperately scrabbling to recover their costs. □ [V + for ] The opportunity had gone. His mind scrabbled for alternatives. ● PHRASAL VERB Scrabble around means the same as scrabble . □ [V P + for ] You get a six-month contract, and then you have to scrabble around for the next job. [Also V P to-inf]
scrag|gly /skræ gli/ (scragglier , scraggliest ) ADJ Scraggly hair or plants are thin and untidy. [mainly AM ] □ …a scraggly mustache.
scrag|gy /skræ gi/ (scraggier , scraggiest ) ADJ If you describe a person or animal as scraggy , you mean that they look unattractive because they are so thin. [mainly BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …his scraggy neck. □ …a flock of scraggy sheep.