scold
[ skohld ]
/ skoʊld /
verb (used with object)
to find fault with angrily; chide; reprimand: The teacher scolded me for being late.
verb (used without object)
to find fault; reprove.
to use abusive language.
noun
a person who is constantly scolding, often with loud and abusive speech.
RELATED CONTENT
Negative Or Positive Reinforcement: Which Is Better?Negative reinforcement vs. positive reinforcement Most people think that positive reinforcement means to lavish praise or encouragement, and that is a good part of its essence, but not all of it. What is negative reinforcement, then? Is that about withholding praise? Scolding? Admonishing? Positive reinforcement is actually something we’re all pretty familiar with. When you were a kid, did you get a weekly allowance for …
Nearby words
Origin of scold
1150–1200; (noun) Middle English, variant of scald < Old Norse skald poet (as author of insulting poems); see skald; (v.) Middle English scolden, derivative of the noun
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for scolded
British Dictionary definitions for scolded
scold
/ (skəʊld) /
verb
to find fault with or reprimand (a person) harshly; chide
(intr) to use harsh or abusive language
noun
a person, esp a woman, who constantly finds fault
Derived Formsscoldable, adjectivescolder, nounscolding, nounscoldingly, adverb
Word Origin for scold
C13: from Old Norse skald
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012