scissor
scissor Lexical Profile
scissor Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hand-operated cutting instrument consisting of two pivoted blades whose sharpened edges slide past each other (usually used in the plural 'scissors', or in the singular as a modifier before another noun).
"The warehouse technician used a hydraulic scissor lift to reach the top shelves safely."
A wrestling hold or athletic movement in which a person wraps their legs around an opponent's body or moves their legs past each other like the blades of a pair of scissors.
"The gymnast executed a clean scissor on the pommel horse to transition into his dismount."
• verb
To cut, clip, or remove something using a pair of scissors.
"She carefully scissored the coupon out of the Sunday newspaper."
To move the legs or other long parts back and forth past each other in a crisscrossing motion resembling the blades of scissors.
"The swimmer scissored his legs rapidly to stay afloat in the deep water."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the cutting tool as a standalone noun, the plural form 'scissors' (or 'a pair of scissors') is standard, whereas the singular 'scissor' is primarily used as a verb or as an attributive noun modifier (e.g., 'scissor kick', 'scissor lift').
• Rhymes for scissor
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English 'sisoures', borrowed from Old French 'cisoires' (shears), from Vulgar Latin '*cisoria' (cutting instrument), ultimately from the Latin verb 'caedere' (to cut). The modern spelling with 'sc-' arose in the 16th century through false association with the Latin 'scissor' (carver or tailor, from 'scindere', meaning to split).