scalp

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈskælp/ 🇺🇸 /ˈskælp/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The skin covering the top of the head, including the hair follicles and underlying tissue.; A piece of skin with hair attached, cut or torn from the head of a defeated enemy as a trophy, especially by certain Indigenous peoples of North America.; A small profit made from a quick transaction, especially in stock or commodity trading.; A ticket resold at a price higher than its face value; the act or profit of scalping tickets.
  2. verb
    To remove the scalp from the head of a person or animal, especially as a trophy of war.; To resell tickets or goods at a price significantly higher than the original or face value for profit.; To make small, quick profits by buying and selling stocks or commodities in rapid succession.; To cut or graze the surface of something, especially to remove the top layer.; To defeat or overcome someone decisively, especially in a political or competitive context.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: scalps 3rd sing.: scalps Past: scalped Past part.: scalped Pres part.: scalping

Collocations

dry scalpitchy scalpscalp massagescalp treatmentticket scalpingscalp a ticket

Derivatives

scalperscalping

Synonyms

crownpatereselltout

Commonly confused

skull
EN: 'Skull' refers to the bony structure of the head, while 'scalp' refers to the skin and tissue covering the top of the head.
scalpel
EN: 'Scalpel' is a small surgical knife; 'scalp' is the skin on the head or the act of reselling tickets at inflated prices.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'scalp' with 'scalpel' (a surgical instrument); they share an etymological root but are distinct words with different meanings.

💬 Examples

  1. She massaged her scalp to relieve the tension headache.

  2. The warrior displayed the scalp as proof of his victory in battle.

  3. The day trader was content with a small scalp on each trade.

  4. He bought a scalp from a vendor outside the stadium for three times the original price.

  5. In some historical accounts, warriors would scalp their fallen enemies.

  6. They were caught scalping concert tickets outside the venue.

  7. He scalped the market by making dozens of trades per day.

  8. The mower scalped the lawn, cutting the grass too short.

  9. The challenger scalped the incumbent in a stunning upset.