scrabble

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈskræbəl/ UK /ˈskræbl/ See IPA manual

verb noun

Meanings

1

verb
to scratch or grope hurriedly, especially with the hands

She scrabbled in her bag for the lost keys.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to scratch or grope... scratch scrape grope claw scramble fumble grub

Word family

Derived forms scrabbler

Related forms scrapescrabbly

Etymology

From Dutch schrabbelen ('to scratch repeatedly'), the frequentative of schrabben ('to scratch'), of Proto-Germanic origin and related to scrape.

schrabbelen Dutch

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Topics

Actions & Processes

# scrabble

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈskræbəl
**IPA (UK):** ˈskræbl

## Meanings
1. to scratch or grope hurriedly, especially with the hands

## Examples
- She scrabbled in her bag for the lost keys.

## Synonyms
- scratch
- scrape
- grope
- claw
- scramble
- fumble
- grub

## Derived Forms
- scrabbler

## Related Forms
- scrape
- scrabbly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: schrabbelen

## Etymology
From Dutch schrabbelen ('to scratch repeatedly'), the frequentative of schrabben ('to scratch'), of Proto-Germanic origin and related to scrape.

## AI Etymology
Scrabble is from Dutch schrabbelen ('to scratch repeatedly'), the frequentative of schrabben ('to scratch'), of Proto-Germanic origin and related to scrape. Important recorded forms include schrabbelen (Dutch). The current sense covers to scratch or grope hurriedly, especially with the hands. The wider family includes derived forms such as scrabbler and related words such as scrape and scrabbly.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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scrabble

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