scissors
scissors Lexical Profile
scissors Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hand-operated cutting instrument consisting of two pivoted blades that slide against each other, typically used for cutting paper, cloth, or hair.
"She used a sharp pair of scissors to cut the wrapping paper cleanly."
An athletic hold, jump, or movement in sports such as wrestling and gymnastics, in which the legs are crossed or wrapped tightly around an opponent or object, resembling the blades of the cutting tool.
"The wrestler secured a tight scissors on his opponent's torso to maintain control on the mat."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a plurale tantum, 'scissors' is grammatically plural and takes a plural verb (e.g., 'the scissors are sharp'), but it typically refers to a single instrument; to count them, the phrase 'pair of scissors' is used.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'sisoures', from Old French 'cisoires', based on Late Latin 'cisoria' (cutting instruments), from Latin 'caedere' (to cut).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.