scar

The word “scar” means a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed. In plain terms, a lasting mark from an injury — on the body or on the mind.

“Scar” is pronounced skah (/skɑɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “scar” used in a sentence: “He still has a scar on his knee from the accident.”

Words with a similar meaning to “scar” include cicatrice and cicatrix.

Depending on how it is used, “scar” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “scar” comes from Old French. From Old French escare, "scab," blending with a separate Middle English word for a cut or notch — ultimately from Greek eskhara, "scab left by a burn.".

“Scar” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Scar” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed.

A physical scar is a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed, while an emotional scar refers to a lasting psychological effect from a difficult or traumatic experience. Both senses share the idea of a permanent mark left behind by something painful, one on the body and one on the mind.

Yes, as a noun "scar" refers to the mark itself, physical or emotional, while as a verb it describes the act of leaving that permanent mark, as in "the accident scarred him for life." The verb form works for both physical injuries and emotional trauma.

Yes, "scar" is commonly used figuratively to describe lasting emotional damage from an experience, even when no physical wound is involved. This extended meaning is well established alongside the literal, skin-related sense.