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¹score

noun \ˈskȯr\

: the number of points, goals, runs, etc., that each player or team has in a game or contest

: the number of points that someone gets for correct answers on a test, exam, etc.

: a document showing all the notes of a piece of music

plural scores

Full Definition of SCORE

or plural score

a : twenty

b : a group of 20 things —often used in combination with a cardinal number <fourscore>

c : an indefinitely large number

a : a line (as a scratch or incision) made with or as if with a sharp instrument

b (1) : a mark used as a starting point or goal (2) : a mark used for keeping account

a : an account or reckoning originally kept by making marks on a tally

b : amount due : indebtedness

: grudge <a score to settle>

a : reason, ground <was accepted on the score of high academic achievement>

b : subject, topic <has nothing to say on that score>

a : the copy of a musical composition in written or printed notation

b : a musical composition; specifically : the music for a movie or theatrical production

c : a complete description of a dance composition in choreographic notation

a : a number that expresses accomplishment (as in a game or test) or excellence (as in quality) either absolutely in points gained or by comparison to a standard

b : an act (as a goal, run, or touchdown) in any of various games or contests that gains points

: success in obtaining something (as money or drugs) especially through illegal or irregular means

: the stark inescapable facts of a situation <knows the score>

See score defined for English-language learners

See score defined for kids

Origin of SCORE

Middle English scor, from Old Norse skor notch, tally, twenty; akin to Old English scieran to cut — more at shear

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SCORE

Synonyms: down [chiefly British], grievance, resentment, grudge

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, twain

Rhymes with SCORE

boar, Boer, bore, chore, cor, core, corps, crore, door, floor, for, fore, four, frore, gore, Gore, hoar, lore, mor, more, nor, o'er, oar, or, ore, poor, pore, pour, roar, shore, snore, soar, sore, splore, spoor, spore, store, Thor, tor, torr, war, whore, yore, your

²score

verb

: to get points, goals, runs, etc., in a game or contest

: to be worth (a particular number of points) in a game or contest

: to officially record the number of points, goals, runs, etc., that each player or team gets in a game or contest

scoredscor·ing

Full Definition of SCORE

transitive verb

a : to keep a record or account of by or as if by notches on a tally : record

b : to enter in a record

c : to mark with significant lines or notches (as in keeping account)

: to mark with lines, grooves, scratches, or notches

: berate, scold; also : denounce

a (1) : to make (a score) in a game or contest <scored a touchdown> <scored three points> (2) : to enable (a base runner) to make a score (3) : to have as a value in a game or contest : count <a touchdown scores six points>

b (1) : achieve, attain <scored a dazzling success> (2) : acquire <help a traveler score local drugs — Poitor Koper> (3) : win 1 <scored free tickets over the radio>

: to determine the merit of : grade

a : to write or arrange (music) for a specific performance medium

b : to make an orchestration of

c : to compose a score for (a movie)

intransitive verb

: to keep score in a game or contest

: to make a score in a game or contest

a : to gain or have the advantage

b : to be successful: as (1) : to succeed in having sexual intercourse (2) : to manage to obtain illicit drugs

c : ³rate

— scor·er noun

— score points