scoff

CEFRB2

/skɒf/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To speak about someone or something with mocking disrespect.

  2. 02

    verb

    To eat something quickly and greedily.

Examples

  • Outsiders tend to scoff at Esperanto as an idealistic waste of time.

  • You'll never convince them if you scoff at and insult them.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.

  2. To jeer; to laugh with contempt and derision.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.

More examples

In context

  • I scoff at it.

  • "I believe you've killed that constable in the exercise of his duty, sir; the man's dead;" said Lowe, sternly. / "Another gloss on my text; why invade me like house-breakers?" said Dangerfield, with a grim scoff.

  • VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

When he heard the unlikely story, he began to blank loudly in disbelief.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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.