score

¹score

noun \ˈskȯr\

plural scores

Definition of SCORE

1

or plural score

a : twenty

b : a group of 20 things —often used in combination with a cardinal number <fourscore>

c : an indefinitely large number

2

a : a line (as a scratch or incision) made with or as if with a sharp instrument

b (1) : a mark used as a starting point or goal (2) : a mark used for keeping account

3

a : an account or reckoning originally kept by making marks on a tally

b : amount due : indebtedness

4

: grudge <a score to settle>

5

a : reason, ground <was accepted on the score of high academic achievement>

b : subject, topic <has nothing to say on that score>

6

a : the copy of a musical composition in written or printed notation

b : a musical composition; specifically : the music for a movie or theatrical production

c : a complete description of a dance composition in choreographic notation

7

a : a number that expresses accomplishment (as in a game or test) or excellence (as in quality) either absolutely in points gained or by comparison to a standard

b : an act (as a goal, run, or touchdown) in any of various games or contests that gains points

8

: success in obtaining something (as money or drugs) especially through illegal or irregular means

9

: the stark inescapable facts of a situation <knows the score>

Examples of SCORE

1. students with low test scores
2. The film's score is by a famous composer.

Origin of SCORE

Middle English scor, from Old Norse skor notch, tally, twenty; akin to Old English scieran to cut — more at shear

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SCORE

Synonyms

down [chiefly British], grievance, resentment, grudge

Related Words

condemnation; offense (or offence), umbrage; complaint; dudgeon, huff, peeve, pique; despite, hatefulness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, hostility, rancor

Near Antonyms

quietus, quittance, repayment; asset

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, twain

Rhymes with SCORE

boar, Boer, bore, chore, cor, core, corps, crore, door, floor, for, fore, four, frore, gore, Gore, hoar, lore, mor, more, nor, o'er, oar, or, ore, poor, pore, pour, roar, shore, snore, soar, sore, splore, spoor, spore, store, Thor, tor, torr, war, whore, yore, your

²score

verb

scoredscor·ing

Definition of SCORE

transitive verb

1

a : to keep a record or account of by or as if by notches on a tally : record

b : to enter in a record

c : to mark with significant lines or notches (as in keeping account)

2

: to mark with lines, grooves, scratches, or notches

3

: berate, scold; also : denounce

4

a (1) : to make (a score) in a game or contest <scored a touchdown> <scored three points> (2) : to enable (a base runner) to make a score (3) : to have as a value in a game or contest : count <a touchdown scores six points>

b (1) : achieve, attain <scored a dazzling success> (2) : acquire <help a traveler score local drugs — Poitor Koper> (3) : win 1 <scored free tickets over the radio>

5

: to determine the merit of : grade

6

a : to write or arrange (music) for a specific performance medium

b : to make an orchestration of

c : to compose a score for (a movie)

intransitive verb

1

: to keep score in a game or contest

2

: to make a score in a game or contest

3

a : to gain or have the advantage

b : to be successful: as (1) : to succeed in having sexual intercourse (2) : to manage to obtain illicit drugs

c : ³rate

— scor·er noun

— score points

: to gain favor, status, or advantage

Examples of SCORE

1. She scored twice in the game.
2. Each correct answer scores two points.
3. In American football, a touchdown scores six points.
4. Who's going to score the game?
5. Judges will score the performances based on their artistic and technical features.
6. Which judges are scoring tonight?

First Known Use of SCORE

14th century

Related to SCORE

Synonyms

groove, scribe, seam

Related Words

abrade, file, graze, mill, rasp, scarify, scratch; bevel, chamfer, flute

Near Antonyms

lose

score

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In music, the parts of all the instruments or singers of an ensemble notated with simultaneous sounds aligned vertically, on a system of parallel staffs arranged one above another. Polyphonic (multivoiced) music was being composed for some 600 years before the score came into regular use in the 16th–17th centuries. Early examples of scores exist for works of the Notre-Dame school, and early composers may have used temporary scores during composition, perhaps on chalkboards, from which the parts for individual singers were then copied.