scroll

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a roll (as of papyrus, leather, or parchment) for writing a document
b
archaic : a written message
c
d
: a riband with rolled ends often inscribed with a motto
2
a
: something resembling a scroll in shape
especially : a spiral or convoluted form in ornamental design derived from the curves of a loosely or partly rolled parchment scroll
b
: the curved head of a bowed stringed musical instrument see violin illustration
scrolled adjective

Illustration of scroll

Illustration of scroll
  • scroll 1a

scroll

2 of 2

verb

scrolled; scrolling; scrolls

intransitive verb

1
: to move text or graphics up or down or across a display screen as if by unrolling a scroll
2
: to progress, move, or be revealed as if by the unrolling of a scroll
watch scenery scroll by large picture windowsDavid Yeadon

transitive verb

: to cause (text or graphics on a display screen) to move in scrolling

Examples of scroll in a Sentence

Noun He read from the scroll. a scarf with lovely green scrolls on it Verb You have to scroll the screen to see the bottom of the Web page.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Seeing Insta’s now infamous scroll of beauty ads, that’s saying something. Merle Ginsberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Apr. 2024 By Rachel Khong The scrolls lay inside glass cases. Rachel Khong, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2024 Professions of love and longing, within perpetual scrolls of direct messages or texts, are frequent. Maya Salam Maya Salam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024 An endless scroll of tailored content means that young minds are saturated, emerging studies show that those who use TikTok are more easily distracted and less able to focus on tasks. Howard Murphy, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024 The Live sections are like QVC, featuring an endless scroll of living, breathing sellers engaged in living, breathing, and selling. Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 5 Apr. 2024 Slightly off-center and to the left is a cluster of mouse buttons, plus a scroll wheel that moves the page up and down. PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024 Instead, Kennedy is front-loading two men who the young male voter might find in a late-night TikTok or Instagram scroll and who are known for their own fondness for indulging in conspiracy theories and misinformation. Anna Merlan, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 On the website, the scrolling experience is simple enough—scroll, rectangle, scroll, next rectangle—but within the rectangles, something else is happening: a cacophony of colour, scrawl, scribble, cross-outs, stickers, stamps, maps, photographs, sketches. Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
Read more Keep scrolling Caitlin Clark may join select group of WNBA players with signature shoes. USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 Keep scrolling to know the fashion happenings of the week. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 18 Apr. 2024 Keep scrolling for more of our top green dress picks below. Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024 Another reads and interprets brain signals while the user scrolls through dating apps, presumably to provide better matches. Jonathan Moens, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024 How might a change to a platform influence a user’s likelihood of spending more time scrolling during the next three months? Billy Perrigo, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024 Keep scrolling to learn more about the lightweight backpacking gear that will now make up my packing arrangement for every camping trip going forward. Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2024 Meet the experts With that, scroll ahead for seven of the best postpartum kits for new parents out there, with products recommended by ob-gyns and used by parents here at Allure HQ. Deanna Pai, Allure, 13 Apr. 2024 Keep scrolling for more fuss-free two-pieces that all come in a summery white. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scroll.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scrowle, blend of rolle roll and scrowe scrap, scroll (from Anglo-French escrowe, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schrode piece cut off, Old High German scrōt) — more at shred entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1973, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scroll was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near scroll

Cite this Entry

“Scroll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scroll. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

scroll

1 of 2 noun
1
: a roll of paper or animal skin that has been prepared as a writing surface
especially : one on which something is written or engraved
2
: an ornament resembling a loosely or partly rolled scroll

scroll

2 of 2 verb
: to move (as text or graphics) up or down or across a display screen as if by unrolling a scroll

More from Merriam-Webster on scroll

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