scum — a layer of dirt or froth on the surface of a liquid
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a layer of dirt or froth on the surface of a liquid
Pronunciation (IPA): /skʌm/
Example Sentences
- The chef carefully skimmed the scum off the boiling soup.
- My roommate never cleans the bathtub, so there's always scum around the edges.
- The villain in the movie was described as 'the scum of the galaxy.'
scum
NOUN[/skʌm/]
a layer of dirt or froth on the surface of a liquid
Image coming soon
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Scum derives from Middle Low German schūm, meaning 'foam' or 'froth'. The word originally referred to dirty foam or scum floating on water surfaces, later extending metaphorically to describe worthless or contemptible people.
Breakdown
schūm (foam, froth) → scum. The word underwent semantic broadening from its literal meaning of surface foam to a figurative sense denoting refuse or a despicable person.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The chef carefully skimmed the scum off the boiling soup.”
“My roommate never cleans the bathtub, so there's always scum around the edges.”
“The villain in the movie was described as 'the scum of the galaxy.'”
“After the storm, the lake was covered with a thick layer of brownish scum.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.