scoff

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /skɔːf/ UK /skɒf/ See IPA manual

Freq #27621

Meanings

1

verb
To speak about someone or something in a mocking, scornful way.

Critics scoffed at the idea when it was first announced.
2

verb
To eat something quickly and greedily.

He scoffed all the snacks before anyone else arrived.
3

noun
A mocking or scornful remark.

Her bold plan was met with scoffs from the committee.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to speak about someone or... jeer sneer mock

2 verb · to eat something quickly... gobble scarf

3 noun · a mocking or scornful remark. derision mockery ridicule

Word family

Forms scoffedscoffingscoffs

Related forms scuff

Etymology

From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.

scof Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# scoff

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /skɔːf/
**IPA (UK):** /skɒf/
**Frequency rank:** 27621

## Meanings
1. To speak about someone or something in a mocking, scornful way.
2. To eat something quickly and greedily.
3. A mocking or scornful remark.

## Examples
- Critics scoffed at the idea when it was first announced.
- He scoffed all the snacks before anyone else arrived.
- Her bold plan was met with scoffs from the committee.

## Related Forms
- scuff

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: scof

## Etymology
From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.

## AI Etymology
Scoff is from Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph. In present-day use, it can mean to speak about someone or something in a mocking, scornful way, or to eat something quickly and greedily. Related vocabulary includes scuff.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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