scum
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scum
(skŭm)n.
1. A filmy or frothy layer of matter that forms on the surface of a liquid or body of water or on a hard surface.
2. The refuse or dross of molten metals.
3. Refuse or worthless matter.
4. Slang One, such as a person or an element of society, that is regarded as despicable or worthless.
v. scummed, scum·ming, scums
v.tr.
To remove the scum from.
v.intr.
To become covered with scum.
scum′mer n.
scum′mi·ly adv.
scum′mi·ness n.
scum′my adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
scum
(skʌm)n
1. a layer of impure matter that forms on the surface of a liquid, often as the result of boiling or fermentation
2. (Biology) the greenish film of algae and similar vegetation surface of a stagnant pond
3. (Metallurgy) Also called: dross or scruff the skin of oxides or impurities on the surface of a molten metal
4. waste matter
5. a worthless person or group of people
vb, scums, scumming or scummed
6. (tr) to remove scum from
7. (intr) rare to form a layer of or become covered with scum
[C13: of Germanic origin; related to Old High German scūm, Middle Dutch schūm, Old French escume; see skim]
ˈscumˌlike adj
ˈscummer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
scum
(skʌm)n., v. scummed, scum•ming. n.
1.
a. a film or layer of foul matter that forms on the surface of a liquid.
b. a film of algae on still or stagnant water: pond scum.
2. refuse or offscourings.
3. a low, worthless person.
4. such persons collectively; dregs.
v.i. 5. to form scum; become covered with scum.
v.t. 6. to remove the scum from.
[1200–50; Middle English scume < Middle Dutch schūme (Dutch schuim) foam, c. German Schaum]
scum′less, adj.
scum′like`, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
scum
Past participle: scummed
Gerund: scumming
| Imperative |
|---|
| scum |
| scum |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  scum - worthless people |
| 2. | scum - a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid film - a thin coating or layer; "the table was covered with a film of dust" | |
| Verb | 1. | scum - remove the scum from get rid of, remove - dispose of; "Get rid of these old shoes!"; "The company got rid of all the dead wood" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
scum
noun
1. rabble, trash (chiefly U.S. & Canad.), riffraff, rubbish, dross, lowest of the low, dregs of society, canaille (French), ragtag and bobtail They're cultureless scum drifted from elsewhere.
2. impurities, film, crust, froth, scruff, dross, offscourings scum around the bath
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
scum
nounSlang. A group of persons regarded as the lowest class:
Idioms: scum of the earth, tag and rag, the great unwashed.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حُثالَه، ناس لا يُساوون شَيْئازَبَد، رَغْوَه
pěnaspodina
bærmeskum
skán, skæniúròvætti
nuoviros
putas
ayak takımıkir tabakasıserseriler güruhuyüzer pislik
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
scum
[ˈskʌm] nCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
scum
n
(on liquid) → Schaum m; (= residue) → Rand m; a pond covered in green scum → ein mit einer grünen Schleimschicht bedeckter Teich; a greasy scum floated on the soup → auf der Suppe schwamm eine Fettschicht
(pej inf) → Abschaum m; (= one individual) → Drecksau f (inf); the scum of the earth → der Abschaum der Menschheit
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
scum
[skʌm] n (on liquid) → schiuma (fig) (pej) (people) → fecciathe scum of the earth → la feccia della società
to remove the scum (from sth) → schiumare (qc)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
scum
(skam) noun1. dirty foam that forms on the surface of a liquid. The pond was covered with (a) scum.
2. bad, worthless people. People of that sort are the scum of the earth.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
scum
n. espuma; escoria.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012