SCAMPER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scamper mean? 

• SCAMPER (noun)
  The noun SCAMPER has 1 sense:

1. rushing about hastily in an undignified way

  Familiarity information: SCAMPER used as a noun is very rare.

• SCAMPER (verb)
  The verb SCAMPER has 1 sense:

1. to move about or proceed hurriedly

  Familiarity information: SCAMPER used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCAMPER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rushing about hastily in an undignified way

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

scamper; scramble; scurry

Hypernyms ("scamper" is a kind of...):

haste; hurry; rush; rushing (the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner)

Derivation:

scamper (to move about or proceed hurriedly)

• SCAMPER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they scamper    ... he / she / it scampers   
Past simple: scampered   
Past participle: scampered   
-ing form: scampering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To move about or proceed hurriedly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

scamper; scurry; scuttle; skitter

Context example:

so terrified by the extraordinary ebbing of the sea that they scurried to higher ground

Hypernyms (to "scamper" is one way to...):

run (move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scamper"):

crab (scurry sideways like a crab)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

scamper (rushing about hastily in an undignified way)

 Context examples 

His companions had passed on whilst he was at his orisons; but his young blood and the fresh morning air both invited him to a scamper.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Then the sharp cry of a squaw inside sent him scampering back to Kiche.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“Why,” I cried, “she has pulled the chaise up at the smithy. I’ll find out all the news for you;” and, catching up my cap, away I scampered.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered away through the grass to their homes.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

'Tis James! was uttered at the same moment by Catherine; and, on catching the young men's eyes, the horse was immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on his haunches, and the servant having now scampered up, the gentlemen jumped out, and the equipage was delivered to his care.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The robbers, who had been not a little frightened by the opening concert, had now no doubt that some frightful hobgoblin had broken in upon them, and scampered away as fast as they could.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“I’m too old to scamper round the ring after you. But we have the day before us, and I’ll wait.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The flood of fight ebbed down in him, and, releasing his prey, he turned tail and scampered on across the open in inglorious retreat.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

And she scampered out of sight, with all the mice hurrying after her.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)