scar
1 Americannoun
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a mark left by a healed wound, sore, or burn.
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a lasting aftereffect of trouble, especially a lasting psychological injury resulting from suffering or trauma.
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any blemish remaining as a trace of or resulting from injury or use.
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Botany. a mark indicating a former point of attachment, as where a leaf has fallen from a stem.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a precipitous, rocky place; cliff.
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a low or submerged rock in the sea.
noun
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any mark left on the skin or other tissue following the healing of a wound
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a permanent change in a person's character resulting from emotional distress
his wife's death left its scars on him
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the mark on a plant indicating the former point of attachment of a part, esp the attachment of a leaf to a stem
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a mark of damage; blemish
verb
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to mark or become marked with a scar
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(intr) to heal leaving a scar
noun
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an irregular enlongated trench-like feature on a land surface that often exposes bedrock
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a similar formation in a river or sea
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of scar1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; shortening of eschar
Origin of scar2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English scarre, skerre, from Old Norse sker skerry
Explanation
A scar is a place where a wound healed but is still visible, or if you're little, it's a mark where a boo-boo was. Scar is from the Greek word eskhara, a "scab formed after a burn." It's all that and more. Scar can be a noun or a verb — you can have a scar on your knee after your skateboarding incident, and a bad round of chicken pox can scar you. Something scary can scar, you, too, like a horror movie or catching your parents in the act. Scars can be emotional. Take one letter off scare and you're left with a scar.
Vocabulary lists containing scar
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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American Street
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She is known to frequent High Row and Broken Scar picnic area.
From BBC • Sep. 21, 2025
“Mufasa: The Lion King,” directed by Barry Jenkins and hitting theaters in December, tells the story of Mufasa’s life and his childhood with brother Scar.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2024
Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2023
As a plus-size bounder, she has drawn inspiration and gotten tips from others, and was recently featured in a fan magazine for her look as Scar from “The Lion King.”
From Washington Post • Apr. 21, 2023
Scar tissue had formed a knot on the bottom of his foot.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
