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, scar·ring.

1. to mark with a scar.

verb (used without object)

, scarred, scar·ring.

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 Words From

• scar·less 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

I am one of those people whose scars are visible—both physical and emotional ones.

From Time

We’ll carry with us the scars of this long year, and of all our history.

From Time

Now, he says, gesturing to the burn scar, the towns had a fire defense in place of a liability.

From MIT Technology Review

The victims have their scars on their bodies, family traumas, societal traumas.

From Time

You beat cancer, but many people have lifelong scars, both physical and emotional.

From Time

A scar marks her right wrist where the bullet hit her eight months ago.

From The Daily Beast

He lifted his t-shirt and showed us a long scar, running from sternum to waistband.

From The Daily Beast

[points to above the knee] The scar looks like a shark bite.

From The Daily Beast

Prinze loves Star Wars and has a big scar on his chin to prove it.

From The Daily Beast

One runner in Houston now has a permanent, hoof-shaped scar in the center of his forehead.

From The Daily Beast

He has an ugly scar—a knife-cut—across the back of one hand; you can't mistake him if you get sight of him.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a scar in the shape of a cross on the man's swarthy cheek, and it glowed redly with the anger that filled him.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a dark, somber looking man with a particularly ugly scar on his chin.

From Project Gutenberg

Anyhow, when McKibben saw him after the team was stopped, there was that cross-shaped scar, plain as anything.

From Project Gutenberg

Brutus was getting well, but there would always be a scar on his shoulder, where the sharp-pointed shrub had entered the flesh.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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