English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

scrolling

noun

The continuous movement of content up, down, or across a screen.

scrooge

noun

A person who is stingy and reluctant to spend money.

scrot

noun

(informal) A person you have no respect for.

scrote

noun

(anatomy, informal) The sac of skin that holds the testicles.

scrotum

noun

The pouch of skin behind the penis that holds the testicles in most male mammals.

scrounge

verb

To search for or obtain something, especially by asking others or making do with what is available.

scrounging

noun

The act of searching for or obtaining things by resourceful or opportunistic means.

scrub

verb

To clean something by rubbing hard, often with a brush.

scrubbed

adj

Cleaned thoroughly by scrubbing.

scrubber

noun

A tool or device used for scrubbing, such as a brush or sponge.

scrubbing

noun

The act of cleaning something by rubbing it hard.

scrubby

adj

Covered with low, thick bushes and small trees.

scrubland

noun

Land covered mainly with low bushes, along with grass and other small plants.

scruff

noun

The back of the neck, especially of an animal.

scruffbag

noun

(informal) Someone or something that looks messy and untidy.

scruffy

adj

Untidy or shabby in appearance.

scrum

noun

A crowd of people squashed closely together in a disorderly way.

scrumptious

adj

Extremely delicious or delightful, especially describing food.

scrunch

verb

To press and fold something tightly into a smaller shape.

scruple

noun

A feeling of doubt or unease that stops you doing something because it may not be right.

scrupulosity

noun

Great and careful attention to doing things correctly and honestly.

scrupulous

adj

Extremely careful and thorough, paying close attention to detail and honesty.

scrupulously

adv

In a very careful and thorough way, paying close attention to every detail.

scrupulousness

noun

The quality of being extremely careful and honest in what you do.

scrutinise

verb

To look at or study something very closely.

scrutinising

adj

Describing something that examines closely and carefully.

scrutinize

verb

To examine something closely and critically, looking for detail, error or hidden meaning.

scrutinous

adj

Thorough, careful and strict.

scrutiny

noun

Close, careful examination or observation.

scryer

noun

A person who claims to see the future using an object such as a crystal ball.

scuba

noun

Diving equipment consisting of a compressed-air tank and regulator, allowing a diver to breathe underwater independently.

scud

verb

To move swiftly along, especially said of clouds.

Scudder

noun

One who scuds, or moves quickly and lightly.

scuddick

noun

(informal) A tiny, unimportant amount of something.

scuff

verb

To scrape or drag the feet while walking, or to scratch a surface by rubbing.

scuffed

adj

Marked or scratched from rubbing against something else.

scuffle

noun

A brief, disorganized fight or struggle at close quarters.

scuffling

noun

The act of engaging in a brief, disorganized fight.

scull

noun

A light, narrow rowing boat, or one of the pair of oars used to row it.

scullery

noun

A small utility room next to a kitchen used for washing dishes and other chores.

Scully

noun

A short barrier or spiked obstacle set up to block military vehicles, such as a Czech hedgehog.

sculpt

verb

To shape something, especially by carving, modelling, or casting, into a three-dimensional form.

sculpted

adjective

Having a well-defined, shapely form, as if carved or chiselled.

sculpting

noun

The art or activity of shaping material into three-dimensional works of art.

sculptor

noun

An artist who creates three-dimensional works of art, typically by carving, modelling, or casting.

sculpture

noun

A three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material.

scum

noun

A thin layer of dirt, foam, or other impurities that gathers on the surface of a liquid.

scumbag

noun

A thoroughly dishonest, sleazy, or contemptible person.

scumble

noun

A layer of paint forming an opaque glaze.

scumbucket

noun

(informal) A dishonest and unpleasant person.

scumbug

noun

(informal) A dishonest, unpleasant person.

scumhole

noun

(informal) A dirty and unpleasant place.

scumminess

noun

(informal) The quality of being dirty or of poor moral character.

scummy

adj

Covered with a dirty layer of film or foam.

scundered

adj

(informal) Fed up and unhappy with a situation.

scunge

noun

Dirt or grime, especially a build-up of it.

scup

noun

A widespread sparid food fish, Stenotomus chrysops, found in temperate Atlantic coastal waters of North America; also called the porgy.

scupper

noun

An opening in a ship's deck that lets water drain away.

scurf

noun

A disease that affects the skin.

scurrility

noun

Something coarse, abusive or offensively insulting.

scurrilous

adj

Describes someone who is rude and abusive in the way they speak.

scurry

verb

To run with short, quick, hurried steps.

scurrying

noun

Quick, hurried movement, especially of small steps.

scurvy

noun

A disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, causing bleeding gums, loose teeth, and skin spots.

scut

noun

(hunting) A hare, especially one being hunted.

scutch

verb

To hit or whip someone hard.

scuttle

noun

An open bucket or container used for carrying coal.

scuttlebutt

noun

Gossip or informal rumour.

scuzz

noun

(informal) A nasty or disgusting person.

scuzzball

noun

(informal) A person with very poor morals who behaves badly towards others.

scuzzbucket

noun

(informal) Another word for a scuzz: someone unpleasant or repulsive.

Scylla

noun

In Greek mythology, a monstrous sea creature that, together with the whirlpool Charybdis, threatened sailors passing through a narrow strait.

scyphistoma

noun

(zoology) A stage in a jellyfish's life cycle when it looks like a small polyp and reproduces without a mate.

scythe

noun

A hand tool with a long curved blade on a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain.

SDK

noun

A bundle of ready-made code, tools and documentation supplied by a company so that other people can build software that works with its product or platform; short for software development kit.

SDS

noun

A safety data sheet: a standard document supplied with a chemical product that sets out its hazards, safe handling, storage, protective equipment, first aid and emergency measures.

se

noun

A large Chinese plucked string instrument similar to a zither, traditionally strung with 25 strings and played horizontally.

se acabó

interjection

A Spanish expression meaning it is over, it is finished, or there is none left, used to declare that something has definitively ended.

sea

noun

The continuous body of salt water covering most of the Earth's surface, or a named part of it.

seabed

noun

The floor of the sea or ocean.

seabee

noun

A group within the United States Navy that builds and constructs things.

seaboard

noun

The region of land along a coastline; a seaboard region.

seaborgium

noun

A transuranic chemical element with the symbol Sg and atomic number 106.

seacoal

noun

Coal that has been washed up onto a beach by the sea.

seacoast

noun

Land that lies next to the sea.

seadog

noun

(informal) An experienced sailor.

seafarer

noun

Someone whose occupation is operating a ship or boat at sea, for either civilian or military purposes.

seafaring

adjective

Working or travelling regularly at sea, especially as an occupation.

seafood

noun

Edible fish and shellfish taken from the sea (or, loosely, from any body of water).

seagoing

adj

Going out onto the sea.

seagull

noun

A common name for various white and grey coastal birds with long wings, often seen scavenging near water.

seahawk

noun

A common name for the osprey, a fish-eating bird of prey.

seal

noun

A marine mammal with flippers that lives partly on land and partly in the sea.

sealant

noun

A substance used to cover a surface so that liquid or gas cannot pass through it.

seale

name

The name of a unincorporated community in Russell County, Alabama, United States.

sealed

adjective

Closed securely so that nothing can get in or out.

sealing

noun

The act of closing something securely, or of applying a seal to it.

Seals

name

A Cornish habitational surname.

seam

noun

The line where two pieces of fabric are stitched together.

seaman

noun

A sailor, especially one serving on a ship.

seamless

adjective

Having no seams or visible joins.

seamlessness

noun

The fact of being seamless, with nothing to interrupt its smoothness.

seamstress

noun

A woman who sews or makes clothing professionally.

Seamus

name

A male given name of Irish origin, equivalent to "James."

seamy

adj

(of a place or situation) Dirty, low or dishonest.

Sean

name

A male given name of Irish origin, equivalent to "John."

seance

noun

A meeting at which people attempt to make contact with the spirits of the dead, usually led by a medium and often held around a table in a darkened room.

seaplane

noun

An aircraft designed to take off from and land on water.

seaport

noun

A town or city with a harbour where ships can load and unload cargo.

sear

verb

To burn or scorch the surface of something with intense heat.

search

verb

To look carefully in order to find someone or something.

searcher

noun

A person or thing that searches.

searching

adjective

Thorough and probing, especially of a look, question, or examination.

searchlight

noun

A powerful lamp that projects a controllable, focused beam of light, often used at night for surveillance or signalling.

seared

verb

Past tense and past participle of "sear" — browned quickly over high heat, or burned/scorched by intense heat or emotion.

searing

adjective

Extremely hot, or (of pain, criticism, or emotion) intensely sharp and forceful.

Sears

name

A surname of English origin.

seashell

noun

The hard outer shell of a sea creature such as a clam, snail, or mussel, especially one found washed up on a beach.

seashore

noun

The land along the edge of the sea, especially where it meets the beach.

seasick

adjective

Nauseous or unwell from the motion of a boat or ship.

seasickness

noun

Nausea and dizziness caused by the movement of a ship or boat.

seaside

noun

An area next to the sea, typically a beach resort or coastal town, especially in British English.

season

noun

One of the four main divisions of the year — spring, summer, autumn, or winter — marked by particular weather patterns.

seasonable

adj

Happening at just the right time.

seasonal

adjective

Happening only at a certain time of year, or relating to one of the seasons.

seasoned

adjective

Experienced and skilled through long practice.

seasoner

noun

A person or thing that adds flavour or seasoning to food.

seasoning

noun

Salt, herbs, spices, or other ingredients added to food to improve its taste.

seaspace

noun

An area of sea marked out for the navy to use.

seat

noun

A piece of furniture or part of one designed for a person to sit on.

seated

adjective

Sitting down, especially already in a chair or seat.

seater

noun

A vehicle or piece of furniture designed to seat a particular number of people.

seating

noun

Seats collectively, or the arrangement of where people sit.

Seattle

name

A seaport city in Washington, United States, and the county seat of King County.

Seaver

name

A surname of Old English origin.

seawall

noun

A coastal defence in the form of a wall or an embankment.

seaward

adj

Positioned towards or facing the sea.

seawater

noun

The salt water found in oceans and seas.

seaway

noun

A route across the sea that ships regularly travel along.

seaweed

noun

Any of various plant-like algae that grow in the sea, often washed up on beaches.

seawoman

noun

A woman who works as a sailor.

seaworthy

adjective

Of a ship, in good enough condition to safely sail at sea.

Seb

name

A diminutive of the male given name Sebastian.

Sebastian

name

A male given name of Latin or Ancient Greek origin.

sec

noun

A second, meaning one sixtieth of a minute.

secant

noun

A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.

secede

verb

To formally withdraw from a country, federation, alliance or other organisation, ending membership of it.

secernment

noun

The process of secerning, in other words secreting, something.

secession

noun

The act of formally withdrawing from a union, state or organisation.

secessionism

noun

Belief in, or support for, a region breaking away to form its own state.