scramble definition | Dictionary.com

scram⋅ble

[skram-buh

verb, -bled, -bling, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.	to climb or move quickly using one's hands and feet, as down a rough incline.

2.	to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain: The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.

3.	to move hastily and with urgency: She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.

4.	Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often fol. by together or up): He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.

6.	to mix together confusedly: The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.

7.	to cause to move hastily, as if in panic: He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.

8.	to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.

9.	to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.

10.	to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.

11.	Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.

–noun

12.	a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.

13.	a struggle for possession or gain: a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.

14.	any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.

15.	Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.

Origin:
1580–90; b. dial. scamble to stumble along, and scrabble (in the same sense)

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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mo·to·cross (mō'tō-krôs', -krŏs')

n. Abbr. MX
A cross-country motorcycle race over a closed course of rough terrain with steep hills and sharp curves. Also called scramble.

[French moto-cross : moto, motorcycle (short for motocyclette, from moto-, motor, from moteur, from Latin mōtor, mover; see motor) + English cross(-country).]

scram·ble (skrām'bəl)

v. scram·bled, scram·bling, scram·bles

v. intr.

To move or climb hurriedly, especially on the hands and knees.
To struggle or contend frantically in order to get something: scrambled for the best seats.
To take off with all possible haste, as to intercept enemy aircraft.
Football
1. To run around with the ball behind the line of scrimmage in order to avoid being tackled while searching for an open receiver.
2. To run forward with the ball when unable to complete an intended pass play. Used of a quarterback.

v. tr.

To mix or throw together haphazardly.
To gather together in a hurried or disorderly fashion.
To cook (beaten eggs) until firm but with a soft consistency.
Electronics To distort or garble (a signal) so as to render it unintelligible without a special receiver.
To cause (aircraft) to take off as fast as possible, as to intercept enemy aircraft.

The act or an instance of scrambling.
An arduous hike or climb over rough terrain.
An unceremonious scuffle or struggle.
Sports See motocross.
A swift takeoff of military aircraft in response to an alert or attack.

[Perhaps blend of obsolete scamble, to struggle for, and dialectal cramble, to crawl.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Scramble

Scram"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scrambled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scrambling.] [Freq. of Prov. E. scramb to rake together with the hands, or of scramp to snatch at. cf. Scrabble.]

1. To clamber with hands and knees; to scrabble; as, to scramble up a cliff; to scramble over the rocks.

2. To struggle eagerly with others for something thrown upon the ground; to go down upon all fours to seize something; to catch rudely at what is desired.

Of other care they little reckoning make, Than how to scramble at the shearer's feast. --Milton.

Scramble

Scram"ble\, v. t. 1. To collect by scrambling; as, to scramble up wealth. --Marlowe.

2. To prepare (eggs) as a dish for the table, by stirring the yolks and whites together while cooking.

Scramble

Scram"ble\, n. 1. The act of scrambling, climbing on all fours, or clambering.

2. The act of jostling and pushing for something desired; eager and unceremonious struggle for what is thrown or held out; as, a scramble for office.

Scarcity [of money] enhances its price, and increases the scramble. --Locke.

Language Translation for : scramble

Spanish: trepar, escalar,

German: krabbeln,

Japanese: よじ登る

More Translations »

scramble

1586, perhaps a nasalized variant of scrabble (q.v.), in its alternate sense of "to struggle, to scrape quickly." Broadcasting sense is attested from 1927. The noun is recorded from 1674; meaning "rapid take-off" first recorded 1940, R.A.F. slang. Scrambled eggs first recorded 1864.

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