English Explanatory Dictionary

scare

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A minor fright.
  2. A cause of terror or alarm; a panic; something that inspires fear or dread.
  3. A device or object used to frighten.
verb
  1. To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
  2. (To be able) to be scared.
adj
  1. lean; scanty

Pronunciation

/skɛə/ /skɛɚ/ en-us-scare.ogg /skɪə(ɹ)/ /skeː/ /skeə/ /skiə/ /skeɹ/ /skɜː(ɹ)/

Word forms

scare scares scaring scared more scare most scare

Etymology

From Middle English sker, skere (“terror, fright”), from the verb Middle English skerren (“to frighten”) (see below).

Synonyms

fright frighten terrify

Related words

scarecrow

Derived words

bomb scare jump-scare jump scare lavender scare red scare scarebug scare campaign scare chord scaredeer scarefest scarefire scareful scarehead scareless scareline scare line scarelore scareproof scare quote scaresome scare tactic scareware scary Y2K scare jumpscare bescare bird-scarer outscare overscare scareable scare away scare-babe scare-beggar scarecrow scared scaredy-cat scare into scaremonger scare off scare out of one's wits scarer scare-sleep scare someone out of their mind scare someone out of their wits scare someone to death scare story scare straight scare the bejeebers out of scare-the-birds scare the daylights out of scare the hell out of scare the hoes scare the horses scare the life out of scare the living daylights out of scare the pants off scare the pants off of scare the shit out of scare up scariant
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