scramble. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

scramble

SYLLABICATION:	scram·ble
PRONUNCIATION:	skrmbl
VERB:	Inflected forms: scram·bled, scram·bling, scram·bles
INTRANSITIVE VERB:	1. To move or climb hurriedly, especially on the hands and knees. 2. To struggle or contend frantically in order to get something: scrambled for the best seats. 3. To take off with all possible haste, as to intercept enemy aircraft. 4. Football a. To run around with the ball behind the line of scrimmage in order to avoid being tackled while searching for an open receiver. b. To run forward with the ball when unable to complete an intended pass play. Used of a quarterback.
TRANSITIVE VERB:	1. To mix or throw together haphazardly. 2. To gather together in a hurried or disorderly fashion. 3. To cook (beaten eggs) until firm but with a soft consistency. 4. Electronics To distort or garble (a signal) so as to render it unintelligible without a special receiver. 5. To cause (aircraft) to take off as fast as possible, as to intercept enemy aircraft.
NOUN:	1. The act or an instance of scrambling. 2. An arduous hike or climb over rough terrain. 3. An unceremonious scuffle or struggle. 4. Sports See motocross. 5. A swift takeoff of military aircraft in response to an alert or attack.
ETYMOLOGY:	Perhaps blend of obsolete scamble, to struggle for, and dialectal cramble, to crawl.


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.