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scramble
[ skram-buhl ]
verb (used without object)
- to climb or move quickly using one's hands and feet, as down a rough incline.
- to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain:
The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.
- to move hastily and with urgency:
She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.
- Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.
verb (used with object)
- to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often followed by together or up ):
He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.
- to mix together confusedly:
The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.
- to cause to move hastily, as if in panic:
He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.
- to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.
- to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.
- to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.
- Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.
noun
- a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.
- a struggle for possession or gain:
a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.
- any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.
- Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.
scramble
/ ˈskræmbəl /
verb
- intr to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement
- intr to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion
- introften foll byfor to compete with others, esp in a disordered manner
to scramble for a prize
- intrfoll bythrough to deal with hurriedly and unsystematically
- tr to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble
- tr to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner
- tr to cook (eggs that have been whisked up with milk and seasoning) in a pan containing a little melted butter
- military to order (a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately or (of a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately
- tr to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler
noun
- the act of scrambling
- a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc
- a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession
- military an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc
- a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground
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Word History and Origins
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of scramble1
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Example Sentences
That may diminish the scramble for shots, though it also means health officials and leaders will have to work harder to make sure they’re delivering shots to those who need them.
Unless you put it out the night before, it’s a bit of a scramble in the morning.
In the aftermath of the late-night scramble to get vaccinated, I felt a strange mix of relief and guilt.
Now it’s a little bit of a scramble to get the pipeline back in order.
You can also see it in how he anticipates his receivers’ improvisational scrambles.
When Carter lost reelection in 1980, Rubenstein had to scramble.
In the meantime, the scramble is on and, in Republican presidential politics, anything can happen.
Colleges churn out graduates and confer advanced degrees, but the scramble for jobs continues.
Perhaps worst of all, this scramble for spoils raises the value of gains even as it lowers the bar for action.
The camera sweeps over to a room filled with seemingly holographic monitors as two technicians scramble.
Please remember that under socialism the scramble for wealth is limited; no man can own capital, but only consumption goods.
In all Trevithick's moves there was a scramble for money, in which he invariably came worst off.
Bascomb could scramble and make headway up the scarred bank, but there was no chance for the motor-cycle to follow.
What will it be like a few days hence, when I shall scramble through the passes and over glaciers by myself!
Half of the people had taken their seats when he began; there was a hasty scramble, and a decorous, half-checked smile.
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