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noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

scissors

SIH-zuhz
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Scissors (noun) means a tool with two pivoting blades used for cutting paper, fabric, hair and other thin materials. Example: “She trimmed the wrapping paper with a pair of scissors.”

noun
1
A tool with two pivoting blades used for cutting paper, fabric, hair and other thin materials.
"She trimmed the wrapping paper with a pair of scissors."
"The hairdresser reached for her scissors and started cutting."
2
In wrestling or similar sports, a hold in which the legs are locked around an opponent like closing blades.
"He took his opponent down with a scissors around the waist."

How to use scissors

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe everyday cutting tool with two blades joined at a pivot, plus a related move in sports where the legs cross like blades.

Common mistake

Scissors is normally treated as plural ("these scissors are sharp"); to talk about more than one pair, say "two pairs of scissors," not "two scissors."

Common pairings
a pair of scissors blunt scissors kitchen scissors
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She trimmed the wrapping paper with a pair of _____.

Etymology

From Old French cisoirs, going back to Late Latin cīsōria, "cutting tools." The modern spelling with "sc-" came later, in the 1500s, when people wrongly linked the word to Latin scissor, meaning "tailor" or "cutter."

Origin: Late Latin · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 scissors joined the language around 1500.
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Synonyms

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shears snips clippers scissor switch

Related words

trade regular stick sub button shift replace switch

Frequently asked questions

What does “scissors” mean?
The word “scissors” means a tool with two pivoting blades used for cutting paper, fabric, hair and other thin materials. In plain terms, the everyday cutting tool with two blades joined at a pivot, plus a related move in sports where the legs cross like blades.
How do you pronounce “scissors”?
“Scissors” is pronounced SIH-zuhz (/ˈsɪzɚz/ in IPA).
How do you use “scissors” in a sentence?
Here is “scissors” used in a sentence: “She trimmed the wrapping paper with a pair of scissors.”
What is another word for “scissors”?
Words with a similar meaning to “scissors” include scissor and switch.
What part of speech is “scissors”?
“Scissors” is a noun.
Where does the word “scissors” come from?
The word “scissors” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Late Latin. From Old French cisoirs, going back to Late Latin cīsōria, "cutting tools." The modern spelling with "sc-" came later, in the 1500s, when people wrongly linked the word to Latin scissor, meaning "tailor" or "cutter.".
Is “scissors” a common word?
“Scissors” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “scissors” have?
“Scissors” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tool with two pivoting blades used for cutting paper, fabric, hair and other thin materials.
Why is scissors always plural?
Scissors is treated as a plural noun because it names a tool with two pivoting blades, historically viewed as a pair of parts working together. This is why English speakers say "the scissors are sharp" rather than "the scissors is sharp," and often use "a pair of scissors" to refer to a single tool.
What is the difference between scissors and shears?
Scissors are generally smaller, with blades under about six inches, used for everyday cutting of paper, fabric, or hair. Shears are larger, often with longer blades and sometimes different handle shapes, and are used for heavier cutting tasks such as gardening or trimming fabric in bulk.
What does 'scissors' mean in wrestling?
In wrestling and similar sports, scissors refers to a hold in which a competitor locks their legs around an opponent, closing them together like the blades of a pair of scissors.

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