scoop

[ skoop ]

noun

1. a ladle or ladlelike utensil, especially a small, deep-sided shovel with a short, horizontal handle, for taking up flour, sugar, etc.
2. a utensil composed of a palm-sized hollow hemisphere attached to a horizontal handle, for dishing out ice cream or other soft foods.
3. a hemispherical portion of food as dished out by such a utensil:

   two scoops of chocolate ice cream.

4. the bucket of a dredge, steam shovel, etc.
5. Surgery. a spoonlike apparatus for removing substances or foreign objects from the body.
6. a hollow or hollowed-out place.
7. the act of ladling, dipping, dredging, etc.
8. the quantity held in a ladle, dipper, shovel, bucket, etc.
9. Journalism. a news item, report, or story first revealed in one paper, magazine, newscast, etc.; beat.
10. Informal. news, information, or details, especially as obtained from experience or an immediate source:

    What's the scoop on working this machine?

11. a gathering to oneself or lifting with the arms or hands.
12. Informal. a big haul, as of money.
13. Television, Movies. a single large floodlight shaped like a flour scoop.

verb (used with object)

1. to take up or out with or as if with a scoop.
2. to empty with a scoop.
3. to form a hollow or hollows in.
4. to form with or as if with a scoop.
5. to get the better of (other publications, newscasters, etc.) by obtaining and publishing or broadcasting a news item, report, or story first:

   They scooped all the other dailies with the story of the election fraud.

6. to gather up or to oneself or to put hastily by a sweeping motion of one's arms or hands:

   He scooped the money into his pocket.

verb (used without object)

1. to remove or gather something with or as if with a scoop:

   to scoop with a ridiculously small shovel.

scoop

/ skuːp /

noun

1. a utensil used as a shovel or ladle, esp a small shovel with deep sides and a short handle, used for taking up flour, corn, etc
2. a utensil with a long handle and round bowl used for dispensing liquids
3. a utensil with a round bowl and short handle, sometimes with a mechanical device to empty the bowl, for serving ice cream or mashed potato
4. anything that resembles a scoop in action, such as the bucket on a dredge
5. a spoonlike surgical instrument for scraping or extracting foreign matter, etc, from the body
6. the quantity taken up by a scoop
7. the act of scooping, dredging, etc
8. a hollow cavity
9. slang.
   a large quick gain, as of money
10. a news story reported in one newspaper before all the others; an exclusive
11. any sensational piece of news

verb

1. often foll by up to take up and remove (an object or substance) with or as if with a scoop
2. often foll by out to hollow out with or as if with a scoop

   to scoop a hole in a hillside

3. to win (a prize, award, or large amount of money)
4. to beat (rival newspapers) in uncovering a news item
5. sport to hit (the ball) on its underside so that it rises into the air

Derived Forms

• ˈscooper, noun
• ˈscoopˌful, noun

Other Words From

• scooper noun
• outscoop verb (used with object)
• under·scoop noun
• under·scoop verb (used with object)
• un·scooped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoop¹

1300–50; (noun) Middle English scope < Middle Dutch schōpe; (v.) Middle English scopen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoop¹

C14: via Middle Dutch schōpe from Germanic; compare Old High German scephan to ladle, German schöpfen, Schaufel shovel , Dutch schoep vessel for baling

Example Sentences

These clear glass tumblers are usually the vessels for heaping scoops of strawberry ice cream with a fudge swirl, whipped cream, and sprinkles, but they are equally useful for spicing up an after-work drink.

From Eater

The journalist has enough information for a big scoop about London’s corruption, but is afraid to hit “publish” because the authorities might retaliate against a captive friend.

From Washington Post

This shovel features a 15-inch-wide, 19-inch-long, rust-proof aluminum scoop that can handle debris, dirt, and rubble.

From Popular-Science

Amy Coney Barrett’s hearings are set to begin today, New Zealand’s election approaches, and we’ve got the scoop on what to expect at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit this week.

From Fortune

Anyone who hates having to stick their hand into coffee beans or grounds to find the scooper will get a kick out of the magnetic coffee scoop that comes with this container and sticks to the outside for easy access.

From Popular-Science

With a 1¾-inch ice cream scoop (or two spoons), scoop round balls of dough onto the prepared sheet pans.

From The Daily Beast

The children desperately scoop the water out with their hands.

From The Daily Beast

In stand mixer, mix cookie mix following the directions on the box, scoop 11 cookies onto baking sheet, place in oven.

From The Daily Beast

McClatchy was the winner and got the scoop, and I will live with that.

From The Daily Beast

She refuses to speak on the record about an issue because she has already guaranteed that scoop to another magazine.

From The Daily Beast

Jess laid the dog down on a bed of moss as she spoke, and started energetically to scoop up piles of the fragrant needles.

From Project Gutenberg

Only blue ground showed, and there was a power scoop digging out more.

From Project Gutenberg

The scoop which he used for the purpose would, he thought, be sufficient for throwing the water overboard.

From Project Gutenberg

Musakbut kug usa ka kumkum bugas, I will scoop out a handful of rice.

From Project Gutenberg

We throw some pennies to another group, and the one nearest the coin picks it up by making a scoop of his flipper-like palm.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• utensil