Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

scanty

 - 2 dictionary results

scant⋅y

[skan-tee] adjective, scant⋅i⋅er, scant⋅i⋅est. noun, plural scant⋅ies.
–adjective
1. scant in amount, quantity, etc.; barely sufficient.
2. meager; not adequate.
3. lacking amplitude in extent or compass.
–noun
4. scanties, very brief underpants, esp. for women.

Origin:
1650–60; scant + -y 1 ; (def. 4) b. scanty and panties


scant⋅i⋅ly, adverb
scant⋅i⋅ness, noun


1, 2. Scanty, meager, sparse refer to insufficiency or deficiency in quantity, number, etc. Scanty denotes smallness or insufficiency of quantity, number, supply, etc.: a scanty supply of food. Meager indicates that something is poor, stinted, or inadequate: meager fare; a meager income. Sparse applies particularly to that which grows thinly or is thinly strewn or sown, often over a wide area: sparse vegetation; a sparse population.


1, 2. plentiful, ample.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To scanty
scant·y   (skān'tē)   
adj.   scant·i·er, scant·i·est
  1. Barely sufficient or adequate.

  2. Insufficient, as in extent or degree.

scant'i·ly adv., scant'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see scanty on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: