Scorpion Meaning

/ˈskɔː.pi.ən/
B1

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounAny of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones, related to the spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting in the end.

nounAny of the order Scorpiones of arachnids related to spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting at the end.

I would scream very loudly if I saw a scorpion in my room.
Is it true that you caught a scorpion?
CEFR Practice Quiz
While walking in the desert, I almost stepped on a poisonous ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hiker shook out her boots carefully to check for a ____ before putting them on.

From Middle English scorpioun, skorpioun, schorpion, schorpiun, partly from Old English sċorpio and partly from Anglo-Norman scorpïun, Old French scorpïon, escorpïon; all from Latin scorpiō, ultimately from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos). The cheerleading move is so called because of the resemblance of the raised foot to a scorpion's stinger. Displaced native Old English þrōwend (“scorpion”).

"Who led thee through that great and terrible wildernesse, wherein were fierie serpents, and scorpions, & drought, where there was no water, who brought thee foorth water out of the rocke of flint," — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 8:15:
"And now whereas my father did lade you with a heauy yoke, I wil adde to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whippes, but I will chastise you with scorpions." — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 12:11:
"And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd, / To Paradise first tending, when behold / Satan in likeness of an Angel bright / Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing / His Zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose […]" — 1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"The Scorpion keepeth the Bladder, Buttocks, and other privatives [sic] of Man or Woman." — 1668, ‘Godfridus’, The Knowledge of Things Unknown, London: G.P. for G. Sawbridge, page 20:
"Ras Alhague is […] nearly due north of Lesath, in the tail of the Scorpion, at the distance of 51 degrees: […]" — 1821, Thomas Kerigan, The young navigator's guide to the sidereal and planetary parts of nautical astronomy, page 73:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
While walking in the desert, I almost stepped on a poisonous ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hiker shook out her boots carefully to check for a ____ before putting them on.

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