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   scramble

   /ˈskrambl/

   verb

   • 1. make one's way quickly or awkwardly up a steep gradient or over rough ground by using one's hands as well as one's feet: "we scrambled over the damp boulders" Similar clamberclimbcrawlclaw one's wayscrabblegrope one's wayshinny
   • ▪ move hurriedly or clumsily from or into a particular place or position: "she scrambled out of the car" Similar strugglehurryscurryscudscutterhastenrushracerun
   • ▪ put (clothes) on hurriedly: "Robbie scrambled into jeans and a T-shirt"
   • ▪ perform (an action) or achieve (a result) hurriedly, clumsily, or with difficulty: informal "Cork scrambled a 1–0 win over Monaghan"
   • ▪ struggle or compete with others for something in an eager or uncontrolled and undignified way: "firms scrambled to win public-sector contracts" Similar jostlescufflescrimmagetusslebattlestrugglestrivecompetecontendviejockey
   • 2. order (a fighter aircraft or its pilot) to take off immediately in an emergency or for action: "the Hurricanes were scrambled again, this time meeting Italian fighters"
   • ▪ (of a fighter aircraft or its pilot) take off for emergency action: "as the jet headed towards Italian airspace, two F104 fighters scrambled from a base in Sicily to intercept it"
   • 3. make (something) jumbled or muddled: "maybe the alcohol has scrambled his brains" Similar muddleconfusemix upjumble (up)disarrangedisorganizedisorderdisturbthrow into disorderthrow into confusionget into a tanglemess up
   • ▪ cook (eggs) by beating them with a little liquid and then cooking and stirring them gently: "you may have your eggs scrambled or boiled"
   • ▪ make (a broadcast transmission or telephone conversation) unintelligible unless received by an appropriate decoding device: "the signal is scrambled into code"
   • 4. (of a quarterback) run with the ball behind the line of scrimmage, avoiding tackles: "McNabb scrambled in the third quarter and threw a touchdown pass to Maddox"

   noun

   • 1. a difficult or hurried clamber up or over something: "an undignified scramble over the wall" Similar clamberclimbascenttrek
   • ▪ a mountain walk up steep terrain involving the use of one's hands: "the route gives an excellent scramble up on to the narrow summit ridge"
   • ▪ a motorcycle race over rough and hilly ground: British "a local landowner allowed some kids to hold a motorbike scramble in the woods"
   • ▪ an eager or uncontrolled and undignified struggle with others to obtain or achieve something: "I lost Tommy in the scramble for a seat" Similar strugglehurryrushracescurrytusslejostlescrimmagescufflebattlestrugglefree-for-allcompetitioncontentionvyingjockeyingmuddleconfusionmelee
   • 2. an emergency take-off by fighter aircraft: "the scramble might be a training exercise or it might not"
   • 3. a disordered mixture of things: "the girl's mouth was a scramble of orthodontist's hardware"

   Word Origin late 16th century: imitative; compare with the dialect words scamble ‘stumble’ and cramble ‘crawl’.

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • M

     3

   • B

     3

   • L

     1

   • E

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