scarify
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scar·i·fy 1
(skăr′ə-fī′)tr.v. scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing, scar·i·fies
1.
a. To make shallow cuts in (the skin), as when vaccinating.
b. To create a design on (the skin) by means of shallow cuts that are sometimes rubbed with a colorant or irritant to enhance the resulting scar tissue.
2. To break up the surface of (topsoil or pavement).
3. To distress deeply, as with severe criticism; lacerate.
4. Botany To slit or soften the outer coat of (seeds) in order to speed germination.
[Middle English scarifien, from Old French scarifier, from Late Latin scarīficāre, alteration of Latin scarīfāre, from Greek skarīphāsthai, to sketch, scratch, from skarīphos, pencil, stylus; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots.]
scar′i·fi·ca′tion (-fĭ-kā′shən) n.
scar′i·fi′er n.
scar·i·fy 2
(skâr′ə-fī′)tr.v. scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing, scar·i·fies
To scare.
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.
scarify
(ˈskɛərɪˌfaɪ; ˈskærɪ-)vb (tr) , -fies, -fying or -fied
1. (Surgery) surgery to make tiny punctures or superficial incisions in (the skin or other tissue), as for inoculating
2. (Agriculture) agriculture
a. to break up and loosen (soil) to a shallow depth
b. to scratch or abrade the outer surface of (seeds) to increase water absorption or hasten germination
3. to wound with harsh criticism
[C15: via Old French from Latin scarīfāre to scratch open, from Greek skariphasthai to draw, from skariphos a pencil]
ˌscarifiˈcation n
ˈscariˌfier n
scarify
(ˈskɛərɪˌfaɪ)vb, -fies, -fying or -fied
(tr) informal to make scared; frighten
[C18: from scare + -ify]
ˈscariˌfyingly adv
Usage: Scarify is sometimes wrongly thought to mean the same as scare: a frightening (not scarifying) film
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
scar•i•fy
(ˈskær əˌfaɪ)v.t. -fied, -fy•ing.
1. to make scratches or superficial incisions in, as in vaccination.
2. to wound with severe criticism.
3. to hasten the sprouting of (hard-covered seeds) by making incisions in the seed coats.
4. to loosen and break up the surface of (soil or pavement).
[1400–50; < Middle French scarifier < Late Latin scarīficāre, alter. of Latin scarīfāre, scarīphāre < Greek skarīphâsthai to sketch, derivative of skárīphos stylus]
scar`i•fi•ca′tion, n.
scar′i•fi`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
scarify
- From Greek skariphasthai, "to scratch an outline," it now means "to break up the surface of."See also related terms for outline.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
scarify
Past participle: scarified
Gerund: scarifying
| Imperative |
|---|
| scarify |
| scarify |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | scarify - puncture and scar (the skin), as for purposes or tribal identification or rituals; "The men in some African tribes scarify their faces" puncture - pierce with a pointed object; make a hole into; "puncture a tire" |
| 2. | scarify - scratch the surface of; "scarify seeds" | |
| 3. | scarify - break up; "scarify soil" loosen - make less dense; "loosen the soil" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
scarify 1
verbTo criticize harshly and devastatingly:
Informal: roast.
Slang: slam.
Idioms: burn someone's ears, crawl all over, pin someone's ears back, put someone on the griddle, put someone on the hot seat, rake over the coals, read the riot act to.
scarify 2
verbThe 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
scarify
[ˈskɛərɪfaɪ] VT (Med, Agr) → escarificar (fig) → despellejar, desollar, criticar severamenteCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005