score
Pronunciation: (skôr, skōr), [key]
— n., pl. v., scores, score scored, scor•ing.
—n.
- the record of points or strokes made by the competitors in a game or match.
- the total points or strokes made by one side, individual, play, game, etc.
- an act or instance of making or earning a point or points.
- the performance of an individual or sometimes of a group on an examination or test, expressed by a number, letter, or other symbol.
- a notch, scratch, or incision; a stroke or line.
- a notch or mark for keeping an account or record.
- a reckoning or account so kept; tally.
- any account showing indebtedness.
- an amount recorded as due.
- a line drawn as a boundary, the starting point of a race, a goal line, etc.
- a group or set of 20: about a score of years ago.
- a great many: Scores of people were at the dance.
- a reason, ground, or cause: to complain on the score of low pay.
- What's the score on Saturday's picnic?
- the basic facts, point of progress, etc., regarding a situation:What's the score on Saturday's picnic?
- a successful move, remark, etc.
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- a written or printed piece of music with all the vocal and instrumental parts arranged on staves, one under the other.
- the music itself.
- the music played as background to or part of a movie, play, or television presentation.
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- a success in finding a willing sexual partner; sexual conquest.
- a purchase or acquisition of illicit drugs, as heroin or cocaine.
- a single payoff obtained through graft by a police officer, esp. from a narcotics violator.
- a successful robbery; theft.
- any success, triumph, happy acquisition, gift, or win.
- the victim of a robbery or swindle.
- to avenge a wrong; retaliate: In the Old West they paid off a score with bullets.
—v.t.
- to gain for addition to one's score in a game or match.
- to make a score of: He scored 98 on the test.
- to have as a specified value in points: Four aces score 100.
- to evaluate the responses a person has made on (a test or an examination).
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- to orchestrate.
- to write out in score.
- to compose the music for (a movie, play, television show, etc.)
- to cut ridges or lines into (meat, fish, etc.) with shallow slashes, usually in a diamond pattern, before cooking.
- to make notches, cuts, marks, or lines in or on.
- to record or keep a record of (points, items, etc.), by or as if by notches, marks, etc.; tally; reckon (often fol. by up).
- to write down as a debt.
- to record as a debtor.
- to gain, achieve, or win: The play scored a great success.
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- to obtain (a drug) illicitly.
- to steal.
- to acquire; be given.
- to berate or censure: The newspapers scored the mayor severely for the announcement.
- to crease (paper or cardboard) so that it can be folded easily and without damage.
—v.i.
- to make a point or points in a game or contest.
- to keep score, as of a game.
- to achieve an advantage or a success: The new product scored with the public.
- to make notches, cuts, lines, etc.
- to run up a score or debt.
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- to succeed in finding a willing sexual partner; have coitus.
- to purchase or obtain drugs illicitly.
- to elicit and accept a bribe.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.