scrabble

¹ American  

[skrab-uhl] / ˈskræb əl /

verb (used with object)

scrabbled, scrabbling

1. to scratch or scrape, as with the claws or hands.

2. to grapple or struggle with or as if with the claws or hands.

3. to scrawl; scribble.

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verb (used without object)

scrabbled, scrabbling

1. to scratch or dig frantically with the hands; claw (often followed byat ).

   scrabbling at a locked door to escape the flames.

2. to jostle or struggle for possession of something; grab or collect something in a disorderly way; scramble.

noun

1. a scratching or scraping, as with the claws or hands.

2. a scrawled or scribbled writing.

3. a disorderly struggle for possession of something; scramble.

   After the fumble, there was a scrabble for the football.

Scrabble ² American  

[skrab-uhl] / ˈskræb əl /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a game combining anagrams and crosswords in which two to four players use counters of various point values to form words on a playing board.

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scrabble ¹ British  

/ ˈskræbəl /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about or at) to scrape (at) or grope (for), as with hands or claws

2. to struggle (with)

3. to struggle to gain possession, esp in a disorderly manner

4. to scribble

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noun

1. the act or an instance of scrabbling

2. a scribble

3. a disorderly struggle

Scrabble ² British  

/ ˈskræbəl /

noun

1. a board game in which words are formed by placing lettered tiles in a pattern similar to a crossword puzzle

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Other Word Forms

• Scrabbler noun
• scrabbler noun

Etymology

Origin of scrabble

1530–40; < Dutch schrabbelen to scratch, frequentative of schrabben to scrape

Example Sentences

Europe’s scrabbling together of funds to put into the pot is important here.

From The Wall Street Journal

They pushed each other and scrabbled for the letter.

From Literature

As she scrabbled for a laser pointer in her large handbag, her coloratura was comically on point, though she was inaudible in her middle range during the cabaletta.

From The Wall Street Journal

A group of people scrabble on the ground, sifting through the soil.

From BBC

The change meant the UK had to "build out" relationships with allies around the world but also invest in the UK's own economy, Jones said, denying ministers were "scrabbling" for solutions.

From BBC

Related Words

• clamber
• creep
• drag
• inch
• plod
• poke
• slide
• slither
• squirm
• wriggle