noun
Uncommon
scoop
skoop
Scoop (noun) means a cup-shaped tool, or the utensil's bowl-shaped end, used for lifting and serving loose material like ice cream or flour. Example: “He used an ice cream scoop to serve dessert.”
noun
1
A cup-shaped tool, or the utensil's bowl-shaped end, used for lifting and serving loose material like ice cream or flour.
"He used an ice cream scoop to serve dessert."
"Add two scoops of protein powder to the shaker."
"Use the scoop to measure out a cup of flour."
2
A news story reported before any rival outlet gets it.
"The reporter landed a major scoop about the merger before anyone else."
"The paper's scoop about the new stadium made headlines everywhere."
"Every journalist hopes for a scoop that no other newsroom has."
verb
1
To lift or gather something using a scooping motion.
"She scooped the sand into a bucket."
"He scooped up his keys on the way out the door."
"He scooped the cat into his arms and carried it inside."
2
To publish a news story before competitors do.
"The local paper scooped the nationals on the council scandal."
"The website scooped its rivals by announcing the result first."
"Our student newspaper scooped the city paper on the school closure."
How to use scoop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the tool/motion for lifting loose material, or a news story broken first.
Common pairings
a scoop of ice cream
get the scoop
scoop up
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Word forms
- Plural
- scoops
- Third person singular
- scoops
- Past tense
- scooped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He used an ice cream _____ to serve dessert.
Etymology
From Middle English scope/schoupe, borrowed from Middle Dutch words for a bucket or shovel used for bailing water, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut or scrape."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for scoop
See all rhymes for scoop →Frequently asked questions
What does “scoop” mean?
The word “scoop” means a cup-shaped tool, or the utensil's bowl-shaped end, used for lifting and serving loose material like ice cream or flour. In plain terms, either the tool/motion for lifting loose material, or a news story broken first.
How do you pronounce “scoop”?
“Scoop” is pronounced skoop (/skup/ in IPA).
How do you use “scoop” in a sentence?
Here is “scoop” used in a sentence: “He used an ice cream scoop to serve dessert.”
What part of speech is “scoop”?
Depending on how it is used, “scoop” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “scoop” come from?
The word “scoop” comes from Middle English. From Middle English scope/schoupe, borrowed from Middle Dutch words for a bucket or shovel used for bailing water, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut or scrape.".
Is “scoop” a common word?
“Scoop” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “scoop” have?
“Scoop” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cup-shaped tool, or the utensil's bowl-shaped end, used for lifting and serving loose material like ice cream or flour.
What is the difference between a scoop and an exclusive in journalism?
A scoop is a news story a reporter publishes before any rival outlet gets it, while "exclusive" is often used to describe the same achievement. In practice the terms overlap, though "scoop" more strongly implies beating the competition to a breaking story.
What does it mean to "scoop" a rival?
To scoop a rival means to publish a news story before they do, gaining credit for breaking it first. The verb can also simply mean to lift or gather something with a scooping motion, as with a scoop of ice cream.
What is the "inside scoop"?
The "inside scoop" refers to exclusive or insider information about a situation before it becomes widely known, drawing on the journalistic sense of scoop as a story reported first. It is commonly used informally to mean the latest gossip or details.
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