scramble

scram|ble1 [ `skræmbl ] verb *

▸ 1 climb with difficulty

▸ 2 compete to achieve something

▸ 3 mix and cook egg

▸ 4 change electronic signal

▸ 5 take off in aircraft

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive scramble over/up/down/out of etc. to climb somewhere using your feet and hands: CLAMBER:

She managed to scramble over the wall.

a ) to move somewhere quickly and in a way that is not graceful:

They stopped the car and quickly scrambled out.

scramble to your feet: He scrambled awkwardly to his feet.

2. ) intransitive to hurry or try very hard to get something, often competing with other people:

scramble for: an environment in which companies are scrambling for skilled workers

scramble to do something: Tensions are rising as diplomats scramble to prevent a war.

3. ) transitive to mix together the white and yellow parts of an egg and cook it

4. ) transitive TECHNICAL to change the form of a radio message so that only someone with special equipment can understand it

5. ) intransitive TECHNICAL if pilots scramble, they hurry to their planes and TAKE OFF quickly so that they can attack an enemy

scramble home INFORMAL

to manage to win a game that you nearly lost:

They finally scrambled home with the only goal of the match.

╾ scram|bled adjective

scramble

scram|ble 2 [ `skræmbl ] noun count

1. ) a situation in which people all compete for the same thing:

scramble for: a scramble each morning for the bathroom

a scramble to do something: They're destroying valuable land in their scramble to make money.

2. ) a situation in which you have to hurry to do something:

a mad scramble: The next two hours were a mad scramble to get to the airport.

3. ) a difficult climb in which you use your feet and hands:

a scramble through mountainous terrain

4. ) a MOTORCYCLE race over rough ground