scold Meaning & Definition
What Does Scold Mean?
As a verb, scold means To burn with hot liquid. It can also mean To heat almost to boiling. As a noun, it means A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
Scold: Key Facts
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈskəʊ̯ld/ |
| Synonyms | grumble, rebuke and reprimand |
| Plural | scolds |
| Verb forms | scolds, scolding, scolded |
Scold Definition (Verb)
- To burn with hot liquid.
to scald the hand
- To heat almost to boiling.
Scald the milk until little bubbles form.
Scold as a Noun
- A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
Verb
- To rebuke angrily.
Synonyms of Scold
Scold in a Sentence
to scald the hand
Scald the milk until little bubbles form.
Word Forms & Grammar
scold (plural scolds)
scold (third-person singular simple present scolds, present participle scolding, simple past and past participle scolded)
Words That Rhyme With Scold
Origin of Scold
The noun is from Middle English scold(e), skald(e), first attested in the 12th or 13th century (as scold, scolde, skolde, skald). The verb is from Middle English scolden, first attested in the late 1300s. Most dictionaries derive the verb from the noun and say the noun is probably from Old Norse skald (“poet”) (cognate with Icelandic skáld (“poet, scop”)), as skalds sometimes wrote insulting poems,[1][2][3][4] though another view is that the Norse and English words are cognate to each other and to Old High German skeltan (whence Modern German schelten (“to scold, chide”)), Old Dutch skeldan (whence Modern Dutch schelden (“to scold, berate”)),[5] all inherited from Proto-Germanic *skeldaną (“scold”).
Common Questions About Scold
Is scold a verb or a noun?
Scold is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for scold?
Words with a similar meaning to scold include grumble, rebuke and reprimand. See the full list of scold synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of scold?
The plural of scold is scolds.
What is the past tense of scold?
The past tense of scold is scolded. The present participle is scolding.