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scrabble

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To scrabble is to clutch, grope or grab at something, or to try to move along or crawl quickly.

(verb)

When you are rock climbing and try really hard to get a firm grip on a rock, this is an example of a time when you scrabble.
When an animal digs his claws into something, this is an example of a time when the animal scrabbles.
When an animal crawls along quickly, this is an example of a time when the animal scrabbles.
When you struggle to claw your way up at work and grab a successful promotion, this is an example of a time when you scrabble.

Scrabble is a board game where you use letter tiles to make words, or a struggle to get somewhere or to get something.

(noun)

A board game where you use letter tiles to make words is an example of Scrabble®.
A desperate struggle to get a promotion is an example of a scrabble.

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See scrabble in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb scrabbled, scrabbling

to scratch, scrape, or paw as though looking for something
to struggle
to scribble; make meaningless marks

Origin: Du schrabbelen < schrabben, to scrape: for IE base see scrape

transitive verb

to scrape together quickly
1. to scribble
2. to scribble on

noun

a scraping with the hands or paws
a scramble
a scribble; scrawl
a struggle

a word game played with lettered tiles placed as in a crossword puzzle

Related Forms:

scrabbler noun

See scrabble in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb scrab·bled, scrab·bling, scrab·bles

verb, intransitive

To scrape or grope about frenetically with the hands.
To struggle by or as if by scraping or groping.
To climb with scrambling, disorderly haste; clamber.
To make hasty, disordered markings; scribble.

verb, transitive

To make or obtain by scraping together hastily.
To scribble on or over.

noun

The act or an instance of scrabbling.
A scribble; a doodle.

Origin:

Origin: Dutch schrabbelen

Origin: , from Middle Dutch

Origin: , frequentative of schrabben, to scrape; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

scrabˈbler noun

scrabˈbly adjective

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