I. ˈskō(ə)r, ˈskȯ(ə)r, -ōə, -ȯ(ə) noun
( -s ; see sense 1a )
Etymology: Middle English scor, from Old Norse skor notch, tally, twenty; akin to Old Norse skera to cut, carve — more at shear
1.
a. or plural score
(1) : a sum of twenty : twenty
more than a score of cities
his paintings have … appeared in over a score of smaller exhibitions — Think
(2) : a group of 20 things
a few score … will be authorized to write and speak — O.T.Mallery
the flock numbers about two score
his years were four score
(3) : a unit of weight especially for pigs or oxen equal to 20 or 21 pounds
(4) obsolete : a unit of distance equal to 20 yards
b. scores plural : a group containing an indefinitely large number
scores of lakes
scores of people made homeless by a storm
2.
a. : a line made with or as if with a sharp instrument : notch , incision , scratch
the score should run with the grain whenever possible — Book Production
scores, although they do not pass entirely through the skin, are almost as bad as cuts, because they weaken the leather — Crops in Peace & War
a score made by a piston on a cylinder wall
especially : one made as a tally mark
b.
(1) : a notch (as made in timber) in which another part is fitted
(2) : the groove cut at the ends and sides of a block to admit the strap
c. : an indented line or partial cut in paper, metal, or other material to aid in folding or tearing
3.
a. : a mark used as a starting point or a goal : taw — see curling illustration
b. : a mark made on the surface of a pavement by traffic
c. : a mark or line made for the purpose of keeping account
4.
a. : an account or reckoning kept by making marks on a tally
b. : account
I keep … some sort of log or score of what occupies me — Gilbert Ryle
bade them call at the inn on their way home and drink a pint on his score — Adrian Bell
c. : amount due : indebtedness
leaving others to pay the score — Edith Wharton
5. : an obligation or injury kept in mind for requital : grudge
took advantage of the meeting to settle old scores — American Guide Series: Louisiana
6.
a. : account , reason , motive , ground
the first airplane was not perfect but it was not chopped up and abandoned on that score — H.C.Lodge
excused himself from the bullring on the score of fatigue — Frank Yerby
his situation was still very desperate; on that score he allowed himself no illusions — Rafael Sabatini
b. : behalf , sake
ideas on the score of feminine loveliness were bounded on all four sides by the golden vision — T.B.Costain
the droning on that score I had to listen to — Learned Hand
7.
a. : the original and entire draft or its transcript of a musical composition or an arrangement with the parts for the different instruments or voices written on staffs one above another — compare reduction , short score
orchestral score
piano score
b. : a musical composition having parts for different instruments or voices
c. : a complete description of a dance composition in choreographic notation — compare laban system
8.
a. : the number of points gained by contestants in a game or other contest
b. : an account of points made and other specific items in a game or contest ; broadly : total count : summary
had a score of 21 killings — W.J.Ghent
holds low score on reading best sellers — Current Biography
c. : an act or instance of scoring in a game or contest ; also : a winning point
scores are made by carrying or passing the ball over the goal line
d. : a successful move or stroke : hit
the remark was not intended as a score against him
9. : a number expressing the degree of success in a psychological or educational test in terms of the amount performed or of the time required or of the difficulty surmounted or of the accuracy and excellence of the performance
10. : a numerical rating of quality (as of an animal or of butter) that usually is made on the basis of 100 as a perfect rating and is arrived at by adding numerical values assigned according to some definite scheme to specific significant characteristics (as conformation, condition of coat, aroma)
93 score butter
no animal had a score above 80
11. slang : a successful theft or its proceeds
12. : the stark inescapable facts or often the unglossed prospects of a situation
know the score on unemployment
many victims of communism know what the score is — Armed Forces Talk
•
- go off at score
- in score
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English scoren, from Old Norse skora, from skor, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to keep record or account of by or as if by notches on a tally : set down : record , charge
b. : to enter a record of the indebtedness of — often used with up
scoring up the customers
c. : to enumerate in a record : count , list , reckon — often used with up
men who would observe and score up each point and counterpoint — Osbert Sitwell
asked to score a high rating — Book Production
scores him right — J.D.Morris
2. : to mark with a line
jet planes score the heavens with their vapor trails — Phil Stong
as
a. obsolete : to indicate by or as if by lines — used with out
to score out a path
b. : to mark with significant lines or notches (as in keeping account of something)
to score a tally
pavements … were scored with chalk marks for hopscotch — Rebecca West
c. : to cancel by drawing a line through — often used with off or out
scores through a figure that is wrong — Seven to Eleven
he introduced into his reckoning sets of fixed exceptions, amendments on amendments; then he scored them all off — Van Wyck Brooks
3. : to cut so as to mark with lines, scratches, or notches : notch , scratch , furrow
score timber
the brakedrum surface becomes scored when it is worn by braking action — Principles of Automotive Vehicles
the flood has scored out a deep channel in the middle of the lane — C.S.Jarvis
as
a. : to cut deeply into in more or less parallel lines
score the flounder diagonally into a diamond pattern nearly to the backbone of the fleshy side — Jan Sebastian
peels … cucumbers, scores them with the tines of a fork — Jane Nickerson
b. : to abrade in parallel scratches
rock scored by a moving glacier
c. : to crease (as paper or paperboard) so that it will fold easily at a desired line
each form is scored without ink in two places across the face to provide a guide and aid for folding — L.B.Gatchell
d. : to record by cuts or notches — used with on or upon
4.
a. : to lash so as to mark with welts
b. : berate , excoriate , scold , castigate
my predecessors were equally scored for expressing personal opinions at variance with the criticism in the magazine — Norman Cousins
magistrate … scored the youths, calling them “rough, tough show-offs” — New York Times
much more interesting conversation than the itch to score people off — J.C.Powys
5.
a. : to gain (as points or runs in a game) for addition to the score
scored a home run
b. : to make an entry of the score of (a game or contest) : keep score in
c. : to have as a value in a game or contest : count
a touchdown scores six
d. : to add to one's score (as in a game or contest)
e. : to cause (a teammate) to make a score
scored the man on second
f. : gain , achieve , win
the enemy scored a local gain
score a victory
score a theatrical success
a reporter scored a scoop
a bomb that scores a direct hit
6.
a. : to determine the merit of : grade , mark
score a test or examination
score candidates for a job on the basis of their skill or knowledge
b. : to determine or judge the score of
butter was scored weekly — G.H.Wilster
dogs were scored according to their merits — W.F.Brown b. 1903
7.
a. : to orchestrate or arrange (a musical composition) for performance
one refrain takes two and a half hours to score and copy — R.R.Bennett
was originally scored for four orchestras — Ralph Hill
b.
(1) : to compose a score for (a motion picture)
(2) : to add music to a motion picture that already has sound effects
8.
a. : to bring (as a horse) up to the starting line
b. : to warm up (a trotter or pacer) down the stretch immediately prior to a race
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to run up an account of indebtedness
2.
a. : to make marks
b. : to mark lines (as by incision)
c. : cut
3. : to keep score in a game or contest
4. : to make or count a point in or as if in a game or contest : tally
scored in the 7th inning
a bad throw from the catcher is almost sure to allow the runner to score — W.L.Myers
5.
a. : to gain or have the advantage : win
enjoyed scoring over an opponent — Béla Menczer
nylon also scores over cotton and wool in being resistant to moths — Desmond Reilly
b. : to make a success
an actor who scores in a play
c. : rate
poinsettias have scored high, especially at Christmastime — Anne Dorrance
6.
a. : to approach the starting line ready for the start
a horse scores for a race
b. of a pack of hounds : to give tongue as a group on finding the scent
7. slang : to purchase narcotics
told his stories of scoring in such places — Clellon Holmes
III. noun
slang : a purchase or sale of narcotics
IV. transitive verb
1. : to have sexual relations with
adventuress who … scores the dude and splits — Elizabeth Ashley
2. : to be successful in obtaining
should be able to score a ham sandwich — Glenn O'Brien
intransitive verb
: to succeed in having sexual relations
college roommates who … score with the same girl — L.H.Lapham