n.
Pronunciation: ' skram-b ə l
Function: verb
Inflected Form: scram · bled ; scram · bling \ -b( ə -)li ŋ \
Etymology: perhaps alteration of 1 scrabble
Date: 1568
intransitive verb
1 a : to move with urgency or panic b : to move or climb hastily on all fours
2 a : to struggle eagerly or unceremoniously for possession of something < scramble for front seats> b : to get or gather something with difficulty or in irregular ways < scramble for a living>
3 : to spread or grow irregularly : SPRAWL , STRAGGLE
4 : to take off quickly in response to an alert
5 of a football quarterback : to run with the ball after the pass protection breaks down
transitive verb
1 : to collect by scrambling
2 a : to toss or mix together : JUMBLE b : to prepare (eggs) by stirring during frying
3 : to cause or order (a fighter-interceptor group) to scramble
4 : to disarrange the elements of a transmission (as a telephone or television signal) in order to make unintelligible to interception
– scram · bler \ -b( ə -)l ə r \ noun