noun

scone

skon

Scone (noun) means a small, dense baked good, often slightly sweet, typically served with butter, jam, or cream. Example: “We had scones with clotted cream and jam at the tea room.”

noun

A small, dense baked good, often slightly sweet, typically served with butter, jam, or cream.

"We had scones with clotted cream and jam at the tea room."

"She baked a batch of cheese scones for breakfast."

How to use scone

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small round baked bread-like treat, a staple of British afternoon tea.

UK vs US

British English rhymes it either with "gone" or "bone" depending on region; the item itself is far more common in UK/Irish/Australian baking than in the US.

Common pairings

cream tea and scones a batch of scones scones with jam

Word forms

sconed past tense, scones plural, scones singular

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We had _____ with clotted cream and jam at the tea room.

Etymology

Originally a Scots word, possibly from Middle Low German schö̂ne, "fine flour bread," or from Scottish Gaelic sgonn, "lump."

Origin: German

Rhymes for scone

one bone done gone none tone lone hone cone zone stone phone

See all rhymes for scone →

Frequently asked questions

What does “scone” mean?

The word “scone” means a small, dense baked good, often slightly sweet, typically served with butter, jam, or cream. In plain terms, a small round baked bread-like treat, a staple of British afternoon tea.

How do you pronounce “scone”?

“Scone” is pronounced skon (/skoʊ̯n/ in IPA).

How do you use “scone” in a sentence?

Here is “scone” used in a sentence: “We had scones with clotted cream and jam at the tea room.”

What part of speech is “scone”?

“Scone” is a noun.

Where does the word “scone” come from?

The word “scone” comes from German. Originally a Scots word, possibly from Middle Low German schö̂ne, "fine flour bread," or from Scottish Gaelic sgonn, "lump.".