scurry — to move quickly with short, hurried steps
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to move quickly with short, hurried steps
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈskɜːri/
Example Sentences
- Students scurried to their classrooms when they heard the late bell ringing.
- The office workers scurried around like headless chickens when the CEO made a surprise visit.
- Crabs scurried sideways across the sand when the waves retreated.
scurry
VERB[/ˈskɜːri/]
to move quickly with short, hurried steps
The tiny mice scurry across the kitchen floor when the lights flick on.
The more you scurry and hurry, the more you worry!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Scurry emerged in the mid-16th century from the reduplicative phrase 'hurry-scurry', which combined two onomatopoetic elements. The word carries inherent onomatopoetic qualities, imitating the sounds and movements associated with rapid, flustered motion.
Breakdown
Scurry derives from the second element of the reduplicative compound 'hurry-scurry', where 'scurry' became an independent verb. The word functions as onomatopoeia, with the 'sc-' and '-urry' combination mimicking quick, skittering sounds and movements.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Students scurried to their classrooms when they heard the late bell ringing.”
“The office workers scurried around like headless chickens when the CEO made a surprise visit.”
“Crabs scurried sideways across the sand when the waves retreated.”
“My cat loves to watch the robot vacuum as dust bunnies scurry out from under the sofa.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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