26984 words

scramble

16 definitions ā€¢ 19 examples
1
to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands to help you:

Examples:

scramble up/over She scrambled up the steep hillside and over the rocks.
scramble into He scrambled into his clothes (= put them on quickly) and raced to get help.
scramble for As the burning plane landed, the terrified passengers scrambled for the door (= tried to reach the door quickly).
2
to compete with other people for something there is very little of:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] People are scrambling to buy property before prices rise even further.
3
(of a quarterback in American football) to run quickly with the ball to avoid an opponent who has broken through the line of players that protects them:

Examples:

The quarterback saw the defender coming and scrambled to his right for six yards.
4
to put things such as words or letters in the wrong order so that they do not make sense:

Examples:

He had a habit of scrambling his words when excited.
5
to mix food as it is being fried, especially eggs or tofu (= a soft, pale food that has very little flavour but is high in protein, made from the seed of the soya plant):

Examples:

Iā€™m sure this dish would be just as delicious if you scrambled the eggs first.
You can use any kind of tofu when scrambling it.
6
to change a radio or phone signal so that it can only be understood using a special device
7
to (cause a plane to) take off very quickly:

Examples:

A helicopter was scrambled within minutes of the news.
8
a climb that is difficult so that you have to use your hands to help you:

Examples:

a scramble It was a real scramble to the top of the hillside.
9
an act of hurrying:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] As soon as the plane landed there was a mad/wild scramble to get out.
10
a hurried attempt to get something:

Examples:

a scramble for After the death of the dictator there was an unseemly scramble for power among the generals.
11
a

Examples:

We're planning a scramble through the forest next weekend.
12
a dish of food that is mixed as it is being fried, especially eggs or tofu (= a soft, pale food that has very little flavour but is high in protein, made from the seed of the soya plant):

Examples:

a potato-sausage scramble
tofu scramble with mushrooms and spinach
13
to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using the hands:

Examples:

She scrambled to safety away from the fighting.
[ + to infinitive ] fig. Poultry farmers scrambled (= worked hard and fast) to provide water to their flocks as pipes burst in Georgiaā€™s coldest weather this century.
14
to mix together and cook the transparent and yellow parts of eggs:

Examples:

We had bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast.
15
to change a radio or telephone signal while it is being sent so that it cannot be understood without a special device
16

Examples:

fig. There was a mad scramble (= many people moving at once) for the best seats in the theater.

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