scroll
skrohl
Scroll (noun) means a roll of paper or parchment, especially one containing writing. Example: “The ancient scroll was carefully unrolled by the museum curator.”
noun
1
A roll of paper or parchment, especially one containing writing.
"The ancient scroll was carefully unrolled by the museum curator."
"The monk copied the prayers onto a long scroll made of parchment."
"Archaeologists discovered a sealed scroll inside a clay jar in the cave."
verb
1
To move text or images on a screen up, down, or sideways to view more content.
"She scrolled through her feed during the commute."
"Scroll down to see the rest of the article."
"You can scroll sideways on the app to see the earlier photos."
2
(informal) To browse social media aimlessly for long stretches of time.
"He admitted he'd been scrolling for an hour instead of sleeping."
"I meant to go to bed early but ended up scrolling for ages."
"Teenagers often scroll on their phones all evening without noticing the time."
How to use scroll
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rolled document, or (much more commonly today) the act of moving through content on a screen.
Common pairings
scroll down
scroll through
ancient scroll
doom-scroll
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Word forms
- Plural
- scrolls
- Third person singular
- scrolls
- Past tense
- scrolled
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The ancient _____ was carefully unrolled by the museum curator.
Etymology
From Old French escroe ("strip of parchment"), from a Frankish word meaning "a shred" — the same root that gives us "shred" and "escrow."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for scroll
See all rhymes for scroll →Frequently asked questions
What does “scroll” mean?
The word “scroll” means a roll of paper or parchment, especially one containing writing. In plain terms, a rolled document, or (much more commonly today) the act of moving through content on a screen.
How do you pronounce “scroll”?
“Scroll” is pronounced skrohl (/skɹoʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “scroll” in a sentence?
Here is “scroll” used in a sentence: “The ancient scroll was carefully unrolled by the museum curator.”
What part of speech is “scroll”?
Depending on how it is used, “scroll” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “scroll” come from?
The word “scroll” comes from Old French. From Old French escroe ("strip of parchment"), from a Frankish word meaning "a shred" — the same root that gives us "shred" and "escrow.".
Is “scroll” a common word?
“Scroll” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “scroll” have?
“Scroll” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a roll of paper or parchment, especially one containing writing.
What is the difference between a scroll and scrolling?
A scroll (noun) is a roll of paper or parchment containing writing, while "scrolling" (verb) describes the digital action of moving text or images on a screen to view more content. The digital sense borrows the visual idea of unrolling continuous content from the physical object.
What does it mean to "doomscroll"?
Doomscrolling draws on the informal sense of scroll: browsing social media or news aimlessly and compulsively for long stretches of time, often consuming negative content. It combines "scroll" with "doom" to emphasize the draining, repetitive nature of the habit.
What is the difference between "scroll down" and "scroll through"?
"Scroll down" means moving content in one direction, typically toward the bottom of a page, while "scroll through" means browsing a longer stretch of content more generally, often without a fixed direction in mind. Both use the verb sense of scroll referring to moving content on a screen.
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