scalp

noun

\ ˈskalp

Definition of scalp

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the part of the integument of the human head usually covered with hair in both sexes

b : the part of an animal (such as a wolf or fox) corresponding to the human scalp

2a : a part of the human scalp with attached hair cut or torn from an enemy as a token of victory

b : a trophy of victory or accomplishment

3 chiefly Scotland : a projecting mass of bare ground or rock

scalp

verb

scalped; scalping; scalps

Definition of scalp (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to deprive of the scalp

b : to remove an upper part from

2 : to remove a desired constituent from and discard the rest

3 : to buy and sell so as to make small quick profits scalp stocks scalp grain especially : to resell at greatly increased prices scalp theater tickets

intransitive verb

1 : to take scalps

2 : to profit by slight market fluctuations

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Examples of scalp in a Sentence

Verb

Some members of the tribe were scalped by the attacking warriors.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

New hair to be grown from a person’s own cells through stem cell technology at Stemson Therapeutics With a multi-million dollar investment, San Diego startup Stemson Therapeutics aims to grow crops of hair on barren scalps. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Baldness cure on the way? San Diego startup aims to make new hair from stem cells," 27 June 2019 The child smiled at the new self in the mirror, this bright face with its velvety scalp, the last prettiness gone. — Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, "Under the Wave," 9 July 2017 Devices such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) — a net of electrodes placed on the scalp — can detect these fluctuations and graph them as sinuous lines similar to those drawn by a seismograph. — Quanta Magazine, "The Beasts That Keep the Beat," 22 Mar. 2016 We're constantly reminded that great hair begins with a healthy scalp, so paying special attention to that area with a clarifying shampoo formulated to rid our roots of grease, product buildup, and other such deposits is a no-brainer. — Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, "The Game-Changing Shampoo Trick Kim Kardashian's Hairstylist Swears By," 6 Aug. 2015 While some hair-care ingredients, like sulfates and silicones, can affect your hair and scalp health (more on that later), others may be hazardous for your entire body, with the potential to disrupt or mimic hormones. — Deanna Pai, Bon Appétit, "Why a Good, Clean Haircare Brand Is Hard to Find," 11 June 2019 Two pregnancies in three years made the problem even worse—major hormonal events like pregnancy can cause hair to shed for all women, not just those with PCOS—leaving my scalp barely covered. — Anna Lee Beyer, Glamour, "Losing My Hair Taught Me to Redefine My Standards of Beauty," 22 May 2019 His wet hair, trimmed short, was like ice against his scalp. — Earl Swift, Outside Online, "The Incredible True Story of the Henrietta C.," 20 June 2018 Theresa Walrath says the second attacker was more aggressive, clawing into her scalp. — USA TODAY, "Painting over history, saving cats’ claws, angry birds: News from around our 50 states," 5 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

His narrative — authored with a ghost writer and under the name James Roberts — describes Robinson scalping Indians and taking part in skirmishes on the Eastern Shore. — Washington Post, "Twice denied the freedom he’d fought for, a black Revolutionary War hero from Maryland is honored at last," 24 June 2019 His narrative — authored with a ghost writer and under the name James Roberts — describes Robinson scalping Indians and taking part in skirmishes on the Eastern Shore. — Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Twice denied the freedom he'd earned, black Revolutionary War hero from Maryland to be honored at last," 21 June 2019 The report also concluded the officers did not racially profile two black men accused of scalping tickets to a Loyola Ramblers' basketball game. — Ryan Smith, Chicago Reader, "Loyola clears campus police of using excessive force against students of color in viral video," 21 June 2018 Russia has made World Cup scalping punishable by a fine for individual sellers of up to 25 times the ticket’s face value. — Washington Post, "Scalpers still operating at World Cup despite crackdown," 14 June 2018 Last week, Leibel was found guilty for the first-degree murder of Iana Kasian, who was found drained of her blood, scalped and tortured in their West Hollywood apartment in May 2016. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Trust Fund Graphic Novelist Sentenced to Life in Prison For Torturing Fiancée Next to Baby Daughter," 26 June 2018 When someone scalps a ticket, that money is being lost from the industry so it's less money spent on future shows, merchandise, streaming, food and beverage at the venue. — Karen Bliss, Billboard, "Face Value Ticket Reseller Twickets, Endorsed By Ed Sheeran and Arctic Monkeys, Banks on Appeal to Ethical Music Lovers: Q&A," 17 May 2018 Zenger was hired from Illinois State to fix an athletic department that was still reeling from the firing of football coach Mark Mangino and an embarrassing ticket scalping scandal. — BostonGlobe.com, "Ex-Olympian Ariana Kukors Smith sues USA Swimming," 22 May 2018 Concert organizers in China have also increasingly deployed facial-recognition systems to curb scalping by verifying the identities of ticket-holders. — Chun Han Wong, WSJ, "With Pop Star as Bait, China Nabs Suspects Using Facial Recognition," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scalp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

7 Jul 2019

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The first known use of scalp was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for scalp

scalper

noun

Financial Definition of scalper

What It Is

The term scalpers refers to securities traders who manipulate the market. Scalpers may also refer to traders who earn relatively small amounts of money from the arbitrage between bid prices and ask prices on securities.

How It Works

In the case of market manipulation, scalpers may buy a security, then recommend the security to investors and take a profit on the difference between their price and the sales price once the market demand raises the price.

Scalpers may also act as market makers, making a spread between the bid price and the ask price of a security. The role of market makers is to provide liquidity in the trading of securities, taking bids and settling on prices. The profits are realized from the difference between the ask price and the bid price on a security. The arbitrage gain on these spreads is usually small and short-term.

Why It Matters

Scalping to profit from the increase in the price of a security as a result of manipulating the market is a fraud under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. The prohibition applies to registered and unregistered investment advisors.

The scalper's business actually overlaps and competes with the designated market maker. However, because the market maker is usually designated by the exchange and has specific, proprietary information about the security, and has substantial capital resources, the general scalper is at a disadvantage.

Source: Investing Answers

scalp

verb

Financial Definition of scalp

What It Is

Scalping is a form of day trading that involves earning small profits on large volumes of securities.

How It Works

A day trader is a very active securities trader who holds securities for a very short time (generally one day or less). If a day trader wants to scalp, he or she would buy and sell shares when there are small changes in the stock price. For example, if the price of Company XYZ rises from $41.50 to $41.55, the difference is only a nickel. To most investors, that's not a compelling change, but scalpers capitalize on this by buying 100,000 shares at $41.50 and selling at $41.55 for a profit of $5,000. If this price change takes place in the course of just one trading day, which is entirely possible, the trader can make $5,000 in a day. Often, the price changes are even smaller than $0.05 a share for scalpers to profit.

Why It Matters

Scalpers execute most of their transactions online, and it is important to note that the number of trades influences the amount of brokerage commissions paid. Some day traders avoid using market makers or brokers by purchasing memberships in direct-access broker systems. These systems send orders to an electronic communications network (ECN), which is a computerized matching system that allows traders to advertise bid or ask prices and execute trades.

Day trading requires analytical skills and discipline, and many people have made day trading a career. However, day trading is exceptionally speculative and therefore requires considerable financial and emotional stamina to withstand substantial risk.

Source: Investing Answers

scalp

noun