verb

scram

skram

Scram (verb) means to leave quickly, especially as a command telling someone to go away. Example: “\"Scram!\" the shopkeeper shouted at the kids.”

verb

To leave quickly, especially as a command telling someone to go away.

"\"Scram!\" the shopkeeper shouted at the kids."

"They scrammed the moment they heard sirens."

To shut down a nuclear reactor rapidly, usually as an emergency safety measure.

"Operators scrammed the reactor after the alarm sounded."

How to use scram

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs a command, it means \"go away now\"; in engineering, it means to emergency-shut-down a reactor.

When to use it

The \"go away\" sense is informal and often used as a blunt command.

Word forms

scrammed past tense, scramed past tense, scrammed past tense, scrammed past tense, scrammed past tense, scrams plural, scrams plural, scrams plural, scrams singular, scrams singular, scrams singular, scrams singular

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Fill the gap

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\"_____!\" the shopkeeper shouted at the kids.

Etymology

Probably either: * a clipping of scramble by apocope; or * from dialectal German schramm, the imperative singular form of schrammen (“to scratch, scrape”), from Late Middle High German schramm, schramme (“a graze, scratch”); further etymology unknown.

Synonyms

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get buzz off bugger off

Related words

be get go become understand leave experience buy

Rhymes for scram

ram gram tram dram cram pram Bram

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Frequently asked questions

What does “scram” mean?

The word “scram” means to leave quickly, especially as a command telling someone to go away. In plain terms, as a command, it means \"go away now\"; in engineering, it means to emergency-shut-down a reactor.

How do you pronounce “scram”?

“Scram” is pronounced skram (/skɹæm/ in IPA).

How do you use “scram” in a sentence?

Here is “scram” used in a sentence: “They scrammed the moment they heard sirens.”

What part of speech is “scram”?

“Scram” is a verb.

How many meanings does “scram” have?

“Scram” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to leave quickly, especially as a command telling someone to go away.

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