scoop
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A utensil with a short handle and a deep, rounded bowl, used for picking up portions of loose or soft material (e.g., food).
The action or movement of picking something up with such a utensil; a piece of important or exclusive news published by one media source before others; the quantity held by a scoop.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word combines concrete (tool, action) and abstract (news story) meanings. The 'news' sense is metaphorical, suggesting the action of lifting something valuable before others can.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and some collocational preferences (e.g., 'ice cream scoop' is common in both; 'scoop neck' for a low-cut top). No major semantic differences.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent. The journalistic sense is very common in media discourse globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scoop [OBJECT] (out of/from [SOURCE])scoop [OBJECT] into/onto [LOCATION]scoop up [OBJECT]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scoop the pool (win everything)”
- “scoop the board”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in media business contexts ('The paper got the scoop on the merger').
Academic
Rare, except in specific technical contexts (e.g., geology, archaeology).
Everyday
Very common, especially related to food ('a scoop of mashed potato') and informal news ('What's the scoop?').
Technical
Used in earth-moving, machining, or journalism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- Use a scoop for the flour.
- The reporter celebrated her front-page scoop.
- He took a generous scoop of trifle.
American English
- She used an ice cream scoop.
- The website had a major scoop on the election.
- Just one scoop of peanut butter, please.
verb
British English
- Scoop out the seeds from the pumpkin.
- The tabloid scooped all its rivals with the story.
- He scooped the cat food into the bowl.
American English
- Scoop the cookie dough onto the tray.
- Our station scooped everyone on the scandal.
- Kids were scooping up sand at the beach.
adjective
British English
- She wore a black scoop-neck top.
American English
- A scoop-neckline is flattering.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you pass me the scoop for the sugar?
- I like one scoop of ice cream.
- She used a scoop to fill the bags with rice.
- The journalist got a big scoop about the new film.
- The construction vehicle can scoop up huge amounts of earth.
- The magazine scooped its competitors by publishing the interview first.
- Archaeologists carefully scooped away the sediment to reveal the artifact.
- The paper's sensational scoop forced the minister to resign.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the double 'O' in SCOOP as the round bowl of the tool, dipping into something.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE GATHERED AND POSSESSED (e.g., 'get the scoop').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лопата' (shovel). 'Scoop' is smaller and for loose materials. The news sense translates to 'сенсация' or 'эксклюзив'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'scoop' for cutting actions. Confusing 'scoop' (tool/action) with 'scope' (range).
Practice
Quiz
In journalism, what does 'to scoop' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A scoop is generally deeper and more rounded, designed for picking up loose or soft materials in quantity (like ice cream, flour). A spoon is shallower and used primarily for eating or stirring liquids.
Yes, metaphorically. The most common example is in journalism ('to scoop a story'), meaning to obtain and publish it before competitors. It can also mean to win something decisively ('They scooped all the major awards').
It's an informal, slightly dated idiomatic phrase meaning 'What's the news?' or 'What's happening?'. It is understood but not as common as 'What's up?'.
It refers to a rounded, U-shaped neckline on a garment like a top or dress, which is lower cut than a standard crew neck.