First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1scum
noun \ˈskəm\
: a layer of something unpleasant or unwanted that forms on top of a liquid
: a dishonest, unkind, or unpleasant person
Full Definition of SCUM
1
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Origin of SCUM
Middle English, from Middle Dutch schum; akin to Old High German scūm foam
Related to SCUM
- Synonyms
- proletariat, rabblement, ragtag and bobtail, riffraff, rout, rabble, tag, rag, and bobtail (or tagrag and bobtail), trash, unwashed
- Antonyms
- A-list, aristocracy, elite, gentry, quality, society, upper class, upper crust
2scum
intransitive verb
scummedscum·ming
Definition of SCUM
: to become covered with or as if with scum
First Known Use of SCUM
1661
SCUMMY Defined for Kids
scum
noun \ˈskəm\
Definition of SCUM for Kids
1
: a film of matter that rises to the top of a boiling or fermenting liquid
2
: a coating (as of algae) on the surface of still water
3
: a loathsome person
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