English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

scarab

noun

A type of beetle sacred to the ancient Egyptians, or any beetle in that family.

Scarborough

name

A coastal town in North Yorkshire, England.

scarbro

name

The name of a census-designated place in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States.

scarce

adjective

Not enough to meet demand; hard to find.

scarcely

adverb

Only just; barely.

scarcity

noun

A shortage; the state of not having enough of something.

scare

noun

A sudden fright, or an event that causes widespread alarm.

scarecrow

noun

A figure made to look human, dressed in old clothes and set up in a field to frighten birds away from crops.

scared

adjective

Feeling fear; afraid.

scaredy

adjective

Easily frightened; nervous or timid, especially used informally of children or pets.

scarf

noun

A long piece of fabric worn around the neck, head, or shoulders for warmth or style.

scarface

noun

A nickname for someone with a noticeable scar on their face.

scarious

adj

Thin, dry and papery, and not green in colour.

scarlet

noun

A vivid red colour, sometimes with an orange tinge.

Scarlett

name

A surname originally denoting an occupation as a dyer or seller of scarlet fabric.

scarlette

name

A female first name that came from a family name.

scarper

verb

Chiefly in scarper the letty: to depart quickly or run away from (a place); to flee.

scarred

adjective

Marked with a scar or scars, physically or emotionally.

scarring

noun

A mark or marks left on skin or tissue after healing; the process of forming such marks.

Scarsdale

name

A village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States.

scary

adjective

Causing fear or unease.

scat

noun

Animal droppings.

scathe

noun

Hurt or damage done to someone or something.

scathing

adjective

Harshly critical.

scathy

adj

Naughty, spiteful or harmful.

scatter

verb

To cause to separate and move in different directions.

scatterbrained

adj

Unable to concentrate or remember things properly; forgetful and easily distracted.

scattered

adjective

Spread out unevenly over an area rather than gathered together.

scattergood

noun

Someone who spends money carelessly.

scattergun

adj

Not aimed carefully at one particular target or subject.

scattering

noun

A small, irregularly spread amount of something.

scatterling

noun

A person with no permanent home.

scatting

noun

The act of scat singing, using improvised nonsense syllables in jazz.

scavenge

verb

To search through discarded material for something useful.

scavenger

noun

A person who searches through discarded items for useful things.

scavenging

noun

The act of searching through waste or remains for something useful or edible.

Scavo

name

A surname of Italian origin.

scenario

noun

A possible sequence of events that might happen.

scend

noun

The upward movement of water as a wave goes past, a surge; also a vessel's upward angular tilt, as distinct from pitch, its corresponding downward movement.

scene

noun

The place where something happens, especially something notable or newsworthy.

scenery

noun

The natural landscape and views of a place, especially when attractive.

scenic

adjective

Having beautiful natural views.

scent

noun

A distinctive smell.

scented

adj

Having a pleasant smell.

scenting

noun

The action of giving something a smell.

scepter

noun

The American spelling of sceptre, a ceremonial rod carried by a monarch as a symbol of authority.

sceptic

noun

A person who is not easily convinced and questions claims or ideas that others accept without proof.

sceptical

adj

The British/Commonwealth spelling of skeptical — doubtful or unconvinced about a claim.

sceptre

noun

A decorated ceremonial staff carried by a ruling monarch as a symbol of royal power.

schadenfreude

noun

The pleasure a person takes in someone else's misfortune.

Schaefer

name

A German occupational surname equivalent to English "Shepherd."

Schaeffer

name

A surname, a variant of Schaefer.

Schafer

name

A German occupational surname equivalent to English "Shepherd."

schav

noun

A type of borscht prepared using sorrel, or sometimes lemongrass instead.

schedule

noun

A plan that lists when a set of tasks or events will happen.

scheduled

adj

Planned to happen at a set time.

scheduling

noun

The process of arranging events, tasks, or resources to happen at particular times.

Scheherazade

name

A female given name of Persian origin.

schema

noun

An outline, plan or model showing how the parts of something fit together.

schematic

noun

A simplified diagram showing how a system or device works, using standard symbols.

scheme

noun

A plan for how to do something, especially an organized or official one.

schemer

noun

Someone who makes secret or devious plans.

scheming

adj

Given to making secret or dishonest plans.

Schiff

name

A surname of German origin, sometimes Jewish, from a word meaning "ship."

Schiller

noun

A shimmering, sheen-like optical effect seen in certain minerals, caused by tiny parallel inclusions inside the crystal.

schilling

noun

The former currency of Austria, used before the euro was adopted, divided into 100 groschen.

Schillinger

name

A surname of German origin.

Schindler

name

A surname of German origin.

schism

noun

A break into separate parts within a group, usually because members disagree.

schizo

noun

An informal, often offensive shortening of "schizophrenic".

schizoid

adj

Keeping away from other people and showing little or no emotion.

schizophrenia

noun

A serious, long-term mental illness marked by disrupted thinking, false beliefs, and a distorted sense of reality.

schizophrenic

adj

Relating to, or affected by, schizophrenia.

schlemiel

noun

(informal) A silly or unlucky person.

schlep

verb

To carry or drag something heavy, or to make a tiring journey.

schlepper

noun

A servant whose job is to carry things.

schlocky

adj

(informal) Poorly made and cheap.

schlong

noun

(informal) A penis, particularly a large one.

schmaltzy

adj

Very sentimental in a way that feels exaggerated or corny.

Schmeling

name

A surname of German origin.

Schmidt

name

A German occupational surname meaning "smith."

Schmitt

name

A surname of German origin, a variant of Schmidt.

schmo

noun

A foolish or unpleasant person that people look down on.

schmoop

noun

Fan-written fiction, or a part of it, that is soppy and overly romantic.

schmoose

noun

A tiny protein made in brain cells' mitochondria, believed to play a part in Alzheimer's disease when it forms incorrectly.

schmooze

verb

To chat in a friendly, informal way, often to network or gain favor.

schmoozing

noun

The act performed by someone who schmoozes.

schmuck

noun

An obnoxious or foolish person; a jerk.

schmuckiness

noun

Behaviour or a quality that is foolish, clumsy, or unpleasant.

Schnabel

noun

The long, beak-shaped section at the front or rear of a Schnabel car, a type of railway wagon used to carry extremely heavy, oversized loads.

schnapps

noun

A strong distilled spirit, often flavored with fruit or herbs, typically drunk in small glasses.

Schneider

name

A German occupational surname meaning "tailor."

Schnell

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "quick" or "swift."

schnitzel

noun

A thin cutlet of meat, usually breaded and fried.

schnorrer

noun

Someone who regularly relies on other people's kindness to get things for free.

schnozzle

noun

A person's nose, particularly a big one.

Schofield

name

A surname of English origin.

scholar

noun

A person with deep expert knowledge in a particular academic subject.

scholared

adj

Having received teaching and training; educated.

scholarly

adj

Relating to serious academic study, or showing the careful, learned qualities of a scholar.

scholarship

noun

Money awarded to a student to help pay for their education, usually based on merit or need.

scholastic

adj

Relating to schools or formal education.

Schon

name

A surname of German origin.

school

noun

An institution where people, especially children, go to be taught.

schoolboy

noun

A boy who attends school.

schoolchild

noun

A child who goes to school, or is old enough to.

schooler

noun

A student at a particular kind of school, usually named in a compound such as "high schooler."

schoolfellow

noun

Another word for a schoolmate: someone who goes to the same school as you.

schoolgirl

noun

A girl who attends school.

schoolgirlish

adj

Like a schoolgirl in manner or appearance.

schoolhouse

noun

A building that houses a school, especially a small one with a single room.

schooling

noun

Education or training received, especially through formal attendance at school.

schoolmaster

noun

A male teacher, especially one in charge of a school or class.

schoolmate

noun

Someone who attended the same school as you.

schoolmistress

noun

A woman who runs or leads a school.

schoolroom

noun

A room inside a school where lessons take place.

schoolteacher

noun

A person who teaches at a school.

schooltime

noun

The hours during which pupils are in lessons.

schoolwork

noun

Work assigned by a school, whether done in class or as homework.

schoolyard

noun

The outdoor area around a school, used by students for recreation.

schooner

noun

A sailing ship with two or more masts rigged with sails running front to back rather than side to side.

Schopenhauer

name

A surname of German origin, most notably borne by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer.

Schrader

name

A surname of German origin.

Schroeder

name

A surname of German origin.

Schrute

name

A surname of German origin.

schtick

noun

The stick that players use in the game of schlockey.

Schubert

name

A surname of German origin.

Schultz

name

A German occupational surname derived from a word for a village mayor.

Schulz

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "headman" or "mayor."

Schumacher

name

A German occupational surname meaning "shoemaker."

Schumann

name

A surname of German origin, most notably borne by composer Robert Schumann.

Schuster

name

A German occupational surname meaning "shoemaker."

Schuyler

name

An American surname of Dutch origin, originally an occupational name meaning "scholar."

Schwartz

name

A surname of German origin, meaning "black."

Schwarz

name

A surname of German origin, meaning "black."

Schwarzenegger

noun

Informally, an extremely muscular bodybuilder — from the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician.

Schweitzer

name

A surname of German origin, most notably borne by physician and theologian Albert Schweitzer.

sciatica

noun

Pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, typically felt running from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of the leg.

science

noun

The systematic study of the natural world through observation and experiment.

sciences

noun

The plural of science — the various branches of scientific study taken together.

sciential

adj

Relating to science or to knowledge.

scientific

adj

Relating to science or to the methods used in science.

scientifically

adv

In a way that follows scientific methods or principles.

scientist

noun

A person who studies or works in one of the sciences, typically through research and experiment.

Scientologist

noun

A follower of Scientology.

Scientology

noun

A movement founded in the 1950s by L. Ron Hubbard, centered on his teachings about the mind and spirit.

scilicet

adv

Used to mean 'namely' or 'that is to say'.

scilla

noun

A plant belonging to the genus Scilla, also called a squill.

scimitar

noun

A sword with a curved blade, originally associated with the Middle East and Central Asia.

scintilla

noun

A tiny spark or flash of light.