scar

¹

[skahr]

noun

1. a mark left by a healed wound, sore, or burn.

2. a lasting aftereffect of trouble, especially a lasting psychological injury resulting from suffering or trauma.

3. any blemish remaining as a trace of or resulting from injury or use.

4. Botany.,  a mark indicating a former point of attachment, as where a leaf has fallen from a stem.

verb (used with object)

scarred, scarring 

1. to mark with a scar.

verb (used without object)

scarred, scarring 

1. to form a scar in healing.

scar

²

[skahr]

noun

British.

1. a precipitous, rocky place; cliff.

2. a low or submerged rock in the sea.

scar

¹

/ skɑː /

noun

1. any mark left on the skin or other tissue following the healing of a wound

2. a permanent change in a person's character resulting from emotional distress

   his wife's death left its scars on him

3. the mark on a plant indicating the former point of attachment of a part, esp the attachment of a leaf to a stem

4. a mark of damage; blemish

verb

1. to mark or become marked with a scar

2. (intr) to heal leaving a scar

scar

²

/ skɑː /

noun

1. an irregular enlongated trench-like feature on a land surface that often exposes bedrock

2. a similar formation in a river or sea

Other Word Forms

• scarless adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scar¹

C14: via Late Latin from Greek eskhara scab

Origin of scar²

C14: from Old Norse sker low reef, _skerry

Example Sentences

The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch for burn scars in the San Bernardino County Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains and foothills and inland areas of Orange County from late Monday until Tuesday afternoon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There is some risk of flash flooding and debris flows in burn scar areas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Regarding the latter of those two teams, England have scars after the 16-0 Ashes thumping at the beginning of the year, but under coach Charlotte Edwards they are beginning to heal.

Read more on BBC

This will possibly scar him for his entire career.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But it also disparages those susceptible to pseudofolliculitis barbae, a medical condition primarily affecting Black men like the show’s razor-shy recruit, wherein regular shaving causes inflammation and a higher likelihood of scarring and developing keloids.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• blister 
• crater 
• defect 
• discoloration 
• disfigurement 
• flaw 
• scab 
• wound