English Words Starting With S

• scarab

  nounLow
  /ˈskær.æb/A type of large dung beetle, especially the sacred beetle of ancient Egypt (Scarabaeus sacer), revered as a symbol of resurrection and eternal life.
• scarabaeid

  adjectivenounVery Low
  /ˌskarəˈbiːɪd/A member of the Scarabaeidae, a large family of beetles.
• scarabaeoid

  adjectivenounVery low (specialist/technical)
  /ˌskærəˈbiːɔɪd/resembling or relating to a scarab beetle, particularly in shape or form.
• scarabaeus

  nounVery Low
  /ˌskærəˈbiːəs/A large dung beetle, especially of the genus Scarabaeus, known for rolling dung into balls.
• scaramouch

  nounRare/Literary
  /ˈskærəmaʊtʃ/a boastful but cowardly person; a rascal or scoundrel, especially one who is theatrical or mock-heroic in their manner.
• scarborough

  nounLow (highly context-dependent)
  /ˈskɑː.brə.rə/A coastal town and resort in North Yorkshire, England.
• scarborough lily

  nounVery Low
  /ˈskɑːb(ə)rə ˌlɪli/A bulbous flowering plant (Vallota speciosa, now Cyrtanthus elatus) with bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers, native to South Africa but named after the English town of Scarborough where it was cultivated.
• scarcement

  nounVery rare
  /ˈskɛəsmənt/A horizontal offset or ledge in a wall, often in a spiral staircase or a defensive structure.
• scarcity

  nounC1
  /ˈskeəsəti/the state of being insufficient or not enough; shortage, lack
• scare

  adjectivenounverbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveB1
  /skeə/To cause sudden fear or alarm in someone; to frighten.
• scare quotes

  plural-nounC2
  /ˈskeə ˌkwəʊts/Quotation marks placed around a word or phrase to signal that it is being used in a non-standard, ironic, or otherwise distancing sense.
• scare story

  nounC1
  /ˈskeə ˌstɔːri/A news story, rumor, or piece of propaganda designed to frighten people, often by exaggerating a threat or danger.
• scare tactics

  plural-nounB2
  /ˈskeə ˌtæk.tɪks/Strategies or methods that use fear to influence or control people's behavior or opinions.
• scare-head

  nounC2
  /ˈskeəˌhɛd/A large, sensational, and often alarmist headline in a newspaper, designed to attract attention or provoke fear.
• scarecrow

  nounC1
  /ˈskeəkrəʊ/A model of a human figure dressed in old clothes, set up in a field to scare birds away from crops.
• scared

  adjectiveverbB1
  /skeəd/Feeling fear; frightened or alarmed.
• scaredy-cat

  nounLow-medium (common in informal/childish contexts, rare in formal usage)
  /ˈskɛː.di ˌkæt/A person (typically a child or used in a childish way) who is easily frightened or excessively timid; a coward.
• scaremonger

  nounC1
  /ˈskeəˌmʌŋ.ɡər/A person who spreads frightening rumours or alarms, especially to manipulate public opinion.
• scareware

  nounLow
  /ˈskeəweə/Malicious software that tricks users into believing their computer is infected or has a serious problem, in order to frighten them into buying fake or unnecessary software or services.
• scarf

  nounverbverb-transitiveB1
  /skɑːf/A long piece of cloth worn around the neck or head for warmth, fashion, or religious purposes.

Showing 1801–1820 of 15552 words.