v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. frighten, esp. suddenly (his expression scared us).
2 tr. (as scared adj.) (usu. foll. by of, or to + infin.) frightened; terrified (scared of his own shadow).
3 tr. (usu. foll. by away, off, up, etc.) drive away by frightening.
4 intr. become scared (they don't scare easily).
--n.
1. a sudden attack of fright (gave me a scare).
2 a general, esp. baseless, fear of war, invasion, epidemic, etc. (a measles scare).
3 a financial panic causing share-selling etc.
Phrases and idioms:
scaredy-cat colloq. a timid person. scare-heading (or -head) a shockingly sensational newspaper headline. scare up (or out) esp. US
1. frighten (game etc.) out of cover.
2 colloq. manage to find; discover (see if we can scare up a meal).
Derivatives:
scarer n.
Etymology: ME skerre f. ON skirra frighten f. skjarr timid