Dictionary

scar en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /skɑɹ/ (General-American)
• /skɑː(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• audio
• skär (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English scar, scarre, a conflation of Old French escare (“scab”) (from Late Latin eschara, from Ancient Greek ἐσχάρα (eskhára, “scab left from a burn”), and thus a doublet of eschar) and Middle English skar (“incision, cut, fissure”) (from Old Norse skarð (“notch, chink, gap”), from Proto-Germanic *skardaz (“gap, cut, fragment”)). Akin to Old Norse skor (“notch, score”), Old English sċeard (“gap, cut, notch”). More at shard. Displaced native Old English dolg, dolgswæþ, and wundswaþu (“scar”). Not related to scarify.

Meanings

1. A permanent mark on the skin, sometimes caused by the healing of a wound.
2. (broadly) A permanent negative effect on someone's mind, caused by a traumatic experience.
   • Thus, it is wise to avoid cultivating an emotional scar, as it can play havoc with your happiness and success. 2011, O. P. Sharma, Be a Winner, →ISBN:
3. Any permanent mark resulting from damage.
   • There is a real scar on the landscape, but it reminds me exactly of scenes I photographed from the construction of High Speed 1 in Kent and Essex, and of the Norton Bridge flyover in Staffordshire. Scars heal, and the replanting and rewilding that Penny had shown me at Cubbington display the early stages. 2022 March 23, Paul Bigland, “HS2 is just 'passing through'”, in RAIL, number 953, page 44:
   • But freedom is not enough. You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: Now you are free to go where you want, and do as you desire, and choose the leaders you please. You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, “you are free to compete with all the others,” and still justly believe that you have been completely fair. Thus it is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. All our citizens must have the ability to walk through those gates. 1965 June 4, Johnson, Lyndon B., Howard University Commencement Address:
   • Her age-old weapons, flood and fire, left scars on the canyon which time will never efface. 1961, Dorothy Jensen Neal, Captive mountain waters: a story of pipelines and people, page 29:

Forms

Deriveds

fire scar · scar limestone · scarproof · scarlike · scarry · scarless · scar tissue · Red Scar · scar tree · scarface · trial of scar · labelscar · top scar · leaf scar

Synonyms

cicatrix · cicatrice

Translations (175)

eo stigmato (permanent mark on the skin) · az yara yeri (permanent mark on the skin) · vo skar (permanent mark on the skin) · ur نِشان (permanent mark on the skin) · da ar (permanent mark on the skin) · ota داغ (permanent mark on the skin) · mk лузна (permanent mark on the skin) · km សម្លាក (permanent mark on the skin) · ru шрам (permanent mark on the skin) · tya tumo (permanent mark on the skin) · te మచ్చ (permanent mark on the skin) · pt cicatriz (permanent mark on the skin) · fr cicatrice (permanent negative mark on the mind) · uk рубе́ць (permanent mark on the skin) · tr yara izi (permanent mark on the skin) · lo ຮອຽບາດ (permanent mark on the skin) · eu orbain (permanent mark on the skin) · nb arr (permanent mark on the skin) · pdt Noaw (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 傷疤 /伤疤 (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 傷痕 /伤痕 (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 疤 (permanent mark on the skin) · kld mubirr (permanent mark on the skin) · lo ແຜ (permanent mark on the skin) · pl szrama (permanent mark on the skin) · sq shenjë (permanent mark on the skin) · sk jazva (permanent mark on the skin) · ru отпеча́ток (permanent negative mark on the mind) · el ουλή (permanent mark on the skin) · ko 흉터 (permanent mark on the skin) · kk тыртық (permanent mark on the skin) · lo ຕາບ (permanent mark on the skin) · ar نَدْب (permanent mark on the skin) · km ស្នាម (permanent mark on the skin) · gd eàrra (permanent mark on the skin) · fa-ira اِسْکار (permanent mark on the skin) · io cikatro (permanent mark on the skin) · mdh baleng (permanent mark on the skin) · ka ნაჭდევი (permanent mark on the skin) · ota یاره (permanent mark on the skin) · ace parôt (permanent mark on the skin) · mi kutiwera (permanent mark on the skin) · is ör (permanent mark on the skin) · tew ôe (permanent mark on the skin) · it cicatrice (permanent negative mark on the mind) · ga colm (permanent mark on the skin) · dsb šmara (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 陰影 /阴影 (permanent negative mark on the mind) · uk шрам (permanent mark on the skin) · bo རྨ་རྗེས (permanent mark on the skin) · fr balafre (permanent mark on the skin) · oc cicatritz (permanent mark on the skin) · gl chilro (permanent mark on the skin) · tft boke (permanent mark on the skin) · mi tiwha (permanent mark on the skin) · fa-ira جایِ زَخْم (permanent mark on the skin) · ky тырык (permanent mark on the skin) · es cicatriz (permanent negative mark on the mind) · fi arpi (permanent negative mark on the mind) · gd leòn (permanent mark on the skin) · gl bruzo (permanent mark on the skin) · bg бе́лег (permanent mark on the skin) · hy սպի (permanent mark on the skin) · id parut (permanent mark on the skin) · ka ნაიარევი (permanent mark on the skin) · ru рубе́ц (permanent mark on the skin) · km ស្លាកស្នាម (permanent mark on the skin) · dsb bluzna (permanent mark on the skin) · taa shet (permanent mark on the skin) · es alforza (permanent mark on the skin) · ta தழும்பு (permanent mark on the skin) · qu q'illa (permanent mark on the skin) · de Narbe (permanent mark on the skin) · ko 반흔 (permanent mark on the skin) · ms parut (permanent mark on the skin) · fa-ira اَثَرْزَخْم (permanent mark on the skin) · ha tabo (permanent mark on the skin) · be шнар (permanent mark on the skin) · szl szrama (permanent mark on the skin) · es chirlazo (permanent mark on the skin) · mrw baleng (permanent mark on the skin) · gd làrach (permanent mark on the skin) · hu forradás (permanent mark on the skin) · la cicātrīx (permanent mark on the skin) · sh òžiljak (permanent mark on the skin) · ltg ciertums (permanent mark on the skin) · aht setʼ (permanent mark on the skin) · ru рубе́ц (permanent negative mark on the mind) · ur داغ (permanent mark on the skin) · ne दाग (permanent mark on the skin) · kmr şûnbirîn (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 瘢痕 (permanent mark on the skin) · ti በሰላ (permanent mark on the skin) · hu heg (permanent mark on the skin) · ro cicatrice (permanent mark on the skin) · ug تاتۇق (permanent mark on the skin) · th ปม (permanent negative mark on the mind) · et arm (permanent mark on the skin) · hi निशान (permanent mark on the skin) · sco blain (permanent mark on the skin) · sw kovu (permanent mark on the skin) · tg асари ҷароҳат (permanent mark on the skin) · mt ċikatriċi (permanent mark on the skin) · wyi boorran (permanent mark on the skin) · rhg gáa (permanent mark on the skin) · mr व्रण (permanent mark on the skin) · fa-ira جوشْگاه (permanent mark on the skin) · nrf pliaie (permanent mark on the skin) · sl brazgotina (permanent mark on the skin) · ka ნაჭრილობევი (permanent mark on the skin) · nv sid (permanent mark on the skin) · cy craith (permanent mark on the skin) · tsg bakās pali (permanent mark on the skin) · wym śruma (permanent mark on the skin) · km ស្លាក (permanent mark on the skin) · ja 傷 (permanent mark on the skin) · gl cicatriz (permanent mark on the skin) · ka ნაწიბური (permanent mark on the skin) · ru след (permanent negative mark on the mind) · hu sebhely (permanent mark on the skin) · fo arr (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 心理創傷 /心理创伤 (permanent negative mark on the mind) · cs jizva (permanent mark on the skin) · gld калхин (permanent mark on the skin) · th แผลเป็น (permanent mark on the skin) · it cicatrice (permanent mark on the skin) · tt җөй (permanent mark on the skin) · bg следа́ (permanent negative mark on the mind) · ang dolgswæþ (permanent mark on the skin) · he צַלֶּקֶת (permanent mark on the skin) · tr yara (permanent mark on the skin) · ta தழும்பு (permanent negative mark on the mind) · fr cicatrice (permanent mark on the skin) · es facial chirlo (permanent mark on the skin) · az cırıq (permanent mark on the skin) · tg доғи захм (permanent mark on the skin) · mi nawe (permanent mark on the skin) · yi שראַם (permanent mark on the skin) · az çapıq (permanent mark on the skin) · haw ʻālina (permanent mark on the skin) · ka შრამი (permanent mark on the skin) · gl michazo (permanent mark on the skin) · my အမာရွတ် (permanent mark on the skin) · grc οὐλή (permanent mark on the skin) · vi thẹo (permanent mark on the skin) · uz chandiq (permanent mark on the skin) · kmr şûna birînê (permanent mark on the skin) · gl cicatrís (permanent mark on the skin) · mn сорви (permanent mark on the skin) · sh о̀жиљак (permanent mark on the skin) · cmn 疤痕 (permanent mark on the skin) · ar نَدْبَة (permanent mark on the skin) · vi sẹo (permanent mark on the skin) · nl litteken (permanent mark on the skin) · my အနာရွတ် (permanent mark on the skin) · uz yara (permanent mark on the skin) · be рубе́ц (permanent mark on the skin) · gl nique (permanent mark on the skin) · ug يار (permanent mark on the skin) · ltg rāna (permanent mark on the skin) · pdt Kjoaw (permanent mark on the skin) · pl blizna (permanent mark on the skin) · lt randas (permanent mark on the skin) · ca cicatriu (permanent mark on the skin) · tk ýara (permanent mark on the skin) · ca cicatriu (permanent negative mark on the mind) · eo cikatro (permanent mark on the skin) · lv rēta (permanent mark on the skin) · ja 瘢痕 (permanent mark on the skin) · hi दाग़ (permanent mark on the skin) · ta வடு (permanent mark on the skin) · izh arpi (permanent mark on the skin) · tl peklat (permanent mark on the skin) · fi arpi (permanent mark on the skin) · sv ärr (permanent mark on the skin)

scar en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /skɑɹ/ (General-American)
• /skɑː(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• audio
• skär (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English scar, scarre, a conflation of Old French escare (“scab”) (from Late Latin eschara, from Ancient Greek ἐσχάρα (eskhára, “scab left from a burn”), and thus a doublet of eschar) and Middle English skar (“incision, cut, fissure”) (from Old Norse skarð (“notch, chink, gap”), from Proto-Germanic *skardaz (“gap, cut, fragment”)). Akin to Old Norse skor (“notch, score”), Old English sċeard (“gap, cut, notch”). More at shard. Displaced native Old English dolg, dolgswæþ, and wundswaþu (“scar”). Not related to scarify.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To mark the skin permanently.
   • Yet I'll not shed her blood; / Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
2. (intransitive) To form a scar.
   • Iron and coal were the magnets that drew railways to this land of lovely valleys and silent mountains—for such it was a century-and-a-half ago, before man blackened the valleys with the smoke of his forges, scarred the green hills with his shafts and waste-heaps, and drove the salmon from the quiet Rhondda and the murmuring Taff. 1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 157:
   • And black skin scars badly. Whatʼs left behind stays pink and angry, always. 2002, Zadie Smith, The Autograph Man, Penguin Books (2003), page 161:
3. (figuratively, transitive) To affect deeply in a traumatic manner.
   • Seeing his parents die in a car crash scarred him for life.

Forms

Deriveds

battle-scarred · scarringly · nonscarring · scarrer

Relateds

birthmark

Translations (24)

pt cicatrizar (to form a scar) · pt marcar (to affect deeply in a traumatic manner) · cmn 留下疤痕 (to mark the skin permanently) · fr cicatriser (to mark the skin permanently) · la notō (to mark the skin permanently) · bg правя белег (to mark the skin permanently) · pl zabliźniać się (to form a scar) · fi arpeutua (to form a scar) · fi jättää arpi (to mark the skin permanently) · pl bliźnić się (to form a scar) · eu orbaindu (to mark the skin permanently) · el σημαδεύω (to mark the skin permanently) · cs zjizvit (to mark the skin permanently) · fi traumatisoida (to affect deeply in a traumatic manner) · cmn 結疤 /结疤 (to form a scar) · pt deixar cicatriz (to mark the skin permanently) · de entstellen (to mark the skin permanently) · pl zabliźnić się (to form a scar) · pl zbliznowacieć (to form a scar) · pl bliznowacieć (to form a scar) · io cikatrizar (to mark the skin permanently) · cmn 給……留下心理創傷 /给……留下心理创伤 (to affect deeply in a traumatic manner) · de verunstalten (to mark the skin permanently) · de traumatisieren (to affect deeply in a traumatic manner)

scar en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /skɑɹ/ (General-American)
• /skɑː(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• audio
• skär (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English scarre, skarr, skerre, sker, a borrowing from Old Norse sker (“an isolated rock in the sea; skerry”). Cognate with Icelandic sker, Norwegian skjær, Swedish skär, Danish skær, German Schäre. Doublet of skerry and scaur.

Meanings

1. A cliff or rock outcrop.
   • All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat. He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witch-like cry; and this cry was echoed by another. “Hi!” it said. “Wait a minute!” The undergrowth at the side of the scar was shaken and a multitude of raindrops fell pattering. 1954, William Golding, chapter 1, in Lord of the Flies, Penguin:
   • O hark, O hear! how thin and clear, / ⁠And thinner, clearer, farther going! / O sweet and far from cliff and scar / ⁠The horns of Elfland faintly blowing! 1847, Tennyson, “The Bugle Song”, in The Princess:
2. A rock in the sea breaking out from the surface of the water.
3. A bare rocky place on the side of a hill or mountain.

Forms

Deriveds

Preston-under-Scar

Translations (2)

fi kari (rock in the sea) · fi luoto (rock in the sea)

scar en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /skɑɹ/ (General-American)
• /skɑː(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• audio
• skär (General-American)

Etymology

From Latin scarus (“a kind of fish”), from Ancient Greek σκάρος (skáros, “parrot wrasse, Sparisoma cretense, syn. Scarus cretensis”).

Meanings

1. A marine food fish, the scarus or parrotfish (family Scaridae).

Forms