scramble

[ skram-buh l ]

/ ˈskræm bəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scramble ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

to climb or move quickly using one's hands and feet, as down a rough incline.

to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain: The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.

to move hastily and with urgency: She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.

Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.

verb (used with object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often followed by together or up): He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.

to mix together confusedly: The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.

to cause to move hastily, as if in panic: He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.

to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.

to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.

to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.

Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.

noun

a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.

a struggle for possession or gain: a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.

any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.

Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.

Origin of scramble

1580–90; blend of dial. scamble to stumble along, and scrabble (in the same sense)

Words nearby scramble

scraggly, scraggy, scram, scramasax, scramb, scramble, scrambled egg, scrambled eggs, scrambler, scramjet, scran

Example sentences from the Web for scramble

When Carter lost reelection in 1980, Rubenstein had to scramble.

Patriotic Philanthropy: Not an Oxymoron |Eleanor Clift |November 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, the scramble is on and, in Republican presidential politics, anything can happen.

The Social Conservative Royal Rumble Is Brewing in Iowa |Ben Jacobs |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Colleges churn out graduates and confer advanced degrees, but the scramble for jobs continues.

How Young People Are Destroying Liberty |James Poulos |October 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Perhaps worst of all, this scramble for spoils raises the value of gains even as it lowers the bar for action.

Is Democracy Doomed Abroad? |James Poulos |August 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs and cook in a pan to scramble, remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese.

Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship |Harley Morenstein |July 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They scramble at their meals; and the one that is not able to contest for his share is certain to get the least.

The Dog |Dinks, Mayhew, and Hutchinson
I like the look of you, sir; I like the blunt fearlessness with which you scramble over a wall; you are a man, sir!

The Cruise of the Make-Believes |Tom Gallon
It was all in such a scramble, that I had no notion there was anything amiss till Clem began to talk on the way home.'

The Pillars of the House, Vol. I (of 2) |Charlotte M. Yonge
Mrs. Bagley looked at the scramble of equipment in the room as though it were an enemy.

The Fourth R |George Oliver Smith
He can scramble into a manger—where my unruly hens persist in making an occasional nest—like a marmoset.

The Prairie Mother |Arthur Stringer

British Dictionary definitions for scramble

scramble

/ (ˈskræmbəl) /

verb

(intr) to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement

(intr) to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion

(intr often foll by for) to compete with others, esp in a disordered manner to scramble for a prize

(intr foll by through) to deal with hurriedly and unsystematically

(tr) to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble

(tr) to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner

(tr) to cook (eggs that have been whisked up with milk and seasoning) in a pan containing a little melted butter

military to order (a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately or (of a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately

(tr) to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler

noun

the act of scrambling

a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc

a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession

military an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc

British a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground

Word Origin for scramble

C16: blend of scrabble and ramp

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

scramble

verb (used without object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

verb (used with object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

noun

Origin of scramble

Words nearby scramble

Example sentences from the Web for scramble

British Dictionary definitions for scramble

verb

noun

Word Origin for scramble

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

scramble

verb (used without object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

verb (used with object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

noun

Origin of scramble

Words nearby scramble

Words related to scramble

Example sentences from the Web for scramble

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for scramble

verb

noun

Word Origin for scramble

British Dictionary definitions for scramble