First Known Use: 1568
Dictionary
1scramble
verb scram·ble \ˈskram-bəl\
: to move or climb over something quickly especially while also using your hands
: to move or act quickly to do, find, or get something often before someone else does
: to prepare (eggs) by mixing the white and yellow parts together and then stirring the mixture in a hot pan
scram·bledscram·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of SCRAMBLE
intransitive verb
1
a : to move with urgency or panic b : to move or climb hastily on all fours
2
a : to struggle eagerly or unceremoniously for possession of something <scramble for front seats> b : to get or gather something with difficulty or in irregular ways <scramble for a living>
4
: to take off quickly in response to an alert
5
of a football quarterback : to run with the ball after the pass protection breaks down
transitive verb
1
: to collect by scrambling
2
a : to toss or mix together : jumble b : to prepare (eggs) by stirring during frying
3
: to cause or order (a fighter-interceptor group) to scramble
4
: to disarrange the elements of a transmission (as a telephone or television signal) in order to make unintelligible to interception
— scram·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun
See scramble defined for English-language learners
See scramble defined for kids
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Origin of SCRAMBLE
perhaps alteration of 1scrabble
Related to SCRAMBLE
2scramble
noun
: the act of moving or climbing over something quickly especially while also using your hands
: the act of moving or acting quickly to do, find, or get something
American football : a play in which the quarterback runs with the ball while being chased by defensive players
Full Definition of SCRAMBLE
1
: the act or an instance of scrambling
2
: a disordered mass : jumble <a…scramble of patterns and textures — Vogue>
3
: a rapid emergency takeoff of fighter-interceptor planes
See scramble defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SCRAMBLE
1648
Related to SCRAMBLE
- Synonyms
- agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, miscellany, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter
SCRAMBLING Defined for Kids
1scramble
verb scram·ble \ˈskram-bəl\
scram·bledscram·bling
Definition of SCRAMBLE for Kids
1
: to move or climb quickly and if necessary on hands and knees <… the boats were pushed into the water, and … we scrambled into them as best we could. — Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins>
2
: to cook the mixed whites and yolks of eggs by stirring them while frying
3
: to put in the wrong order <The letters of the word are scrambled.>
4
: to work hard to win or escape something <She had to scramble to earn a living.>
2scramble
noun
Definition of SCRAMBLE for Kids
: a disorderly rush <They heard … a scramble and a shout: “Call off your dog! …” — Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie>
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