Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense scotches, present participle scotching, past tense, past participle scotched
verb
If you scotch a rumour, plan, or idea, you put an end to it before it can develop any further.
They have scotched rumours that they are planning a special London show. [VERB noun]
...but local residents are trying to scotch plans to add an extra terminal. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: put an end to, destroy, smash, devastate More Synonyms of scotch
Scotch
(skɒtʃ)
Word forms: plural Scotches
1. variable noun
Scotch or Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.
...a bottle of Scotch.
A Scotch is a glass of Scotch.
He poured himself a Scotch.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Scotch means the same as Scottish. This use is considered incorrect by many people.
scotch in British English1
(skɒtʃ)
verb(transitive)
1.
to put an end to; crush
bad weather scotched our plans
2. archaic
to injure so as to render harmless
3. obsolete
to cut or score
noun
4. archaic
a gash; scratch
5.
a line marked down, as for hopscotch
Word origin
C15: of obscure origin
scotch in British English2
(skɒtʃ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to block, prop, or prevent from moving with or as if with a wedge
noun
2.
a block or wedge to prevent motion
Word origin
C17: of obscure origin
Scotch in British English1
(skɒtʃ)
adjective
1. another word for Scottish
noun
2.
the Scots or their language
▶ USAGE In the north of England and in Scotland, Scotch is not used outside fixed expressions such as Scotch whisky. The use of Scotch for Scots or Scottish is otherwise felt to be incorrect, esp when applied to people
Scotch in British English2
(skɒtʃ)
noun
1. Also called: Scotch whisky
whisky distilled esp from fermented malted barley and made in Scotland
2. Northeast England
a type of relatively mild beer
Scotch in American English
(skɑtʃ)
adjective
1.
of Scotland or its people, language, or culture; Scottish
noun
2.
Scottish
3. [oftens-]
whiskey, often having a smoky flavor, distilled in Scotland from malted barley
: in full Scotch whisky
Idioms:
the Scotch
▶ USAGE: See usage note at Scottish
Word origin
contr. < Scottish
scotch in American English1
(skɑtʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to cut; scratch; score; notch
2.
to wound without killing; maim
3.
to put an end to; stifle; stamp out
to scotch a rumor
noun
4.
a cut or scratch
Word origin
ME scocchen, prob. < Anglo-Fr escocher < OFr coche, a notch, nick < VL *cocca, knob at the end of a spindle (later, groove below this knob) < L coccum, berry < Gr kokkos; (sense 2) < Theobald's emendation of scorch in Shakespeare's Macbeth, III, ii, 13
scotch in American English2
(skɑtʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to block (a wheel, log, etc.) with a wedge, block, etc. to prevent movement
noun
2.
such a block, wedge, etc. used to prevent rolling, slipping, etc.
Word origin
earlier scatch < ? OFr escachier, to crush < es- (L ex) + VL *coacticare: see cache
Examples of 'scotch' in a sentence
scotch
The move aims to scotch public fears that infection numbers are being covered up.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It effectively stopped the chain of command from making the unequivocal condemnation needed to scotch wild speculation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The new tool will allow identification in seconds and help to scotch rumours long before they have spread across the internet.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Then they'll get home and pour themselves a large scotch.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The last stop is the world's largest collection of scotch.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He tried to scotch speculation that manufacturing would move to China entirely.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Remove the thyme stalks, scotch bonnet and spring onion before serving.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Fill and boil the kettle, then put the scotch bonnets in a colander.
The Sun (2014)
After an hour on the train I felt more like a large scotch.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He generally stands at slips, leaving the running to younger men, though he is quick to scotch rumours of imminent retirement.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
scotch
whisky
In other languages
scotch
British English: scotch VERB
If you scotch a rumour, plan, or idea, you put an end to it before it can develop any further.
They have scotched rumours that they are planning a special show.
American English: scotch
Brazilian Portuguese: desmentir
Chinese: 制止
European Spanish: desmentir
French: étouffer
German: unterbinden
Italian: metter fine a
Japanese: もみ消す
Korean: 잠재우다
European Portuguese: desmentir
Latin American Spanish: desmentir
British English: Scotch NOUN
Scotch or Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.
...a bottle of Scotch.
American English: Scotch
Brazilian Portuguese: uísque escocês
Chinese: 苏格兰威士忌
European Spanish: whisky escocés
French: scotch
German: Scotch
Italian: scotch
Japanese: スコッチウィスキー
Korean: 스카치 위스키
European Portuguese: uísque escocês
Latin American Spanish: whisky escocés
(verb)
Definition
to put an end to
They have scotched rumours that they are planning a special show.
Synonyms
put an end to
destroy
The building was completely destroyed.
smash
The authorities were trying to smash a smuggling ring.
devastate
A fire devastated large parts of the castle.
wreck
Vandals wrecked the garden.
thwart
scupper (British, slang)
The entire deal will be scuppered.
extinguish
The message extinguished her hopes of seeing her friend any time soon.
put paid to
nip in the bud
bring to an end
put the lid on
put the kibosh on
Additional synonyms
in the sense of destroy
Definition
to ruin
The building was completely destroyed.
Synonyms
ruin,
smash,
crush,
waste,
devastate,
break down,
wreck,
shatter,
gut,
wipe out,
dispatch,
dismantle,
demolish,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
ravage,
slay (archaic, literary),
eradicate,
torpedo,
extinguish,
desolate,
annihilate,
put paid to,
raze,
blow to bits,
extirpate (archaic),
blow sky-high
in the sense of devastate
Definition
to damage (a place) severely or destroy it
A fire devastated large parts of the castle.
Synonyms
destroy,
waste,
ruin,
sack,
wreck,
spoil,
demolish,
trash (slang),
level,
total (slang),
ravage,
plunder,
desolate,
pillage,
raze,
lay waste,
despoil (formal)
in the sense of extinguish
Definition
to remove or destroy entirely
The message extinguished her hopes of seeing her friend any time soon.
Synonyms
destroy,
end,
kill (informal),
remove,
eliminate,
obscure,
abolish,
suppress,
wipe out,
erase,
eradicate,
annihilate,
put paid to,
exterminate,
expunge (formal),
extirpate (archaic)
Nearby words of
scotch
scornful
scornfully
scot-free
scotch
Scotland
Scots
scoundrel
Synonyms of 'scotch'
scotch
Explore 'scotch' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of scupper
Definition
to defeat or ruin
The entire deal will be scuppered.
Synonyms
destroy,
ruin,
wreck,
defeat,
overwhelm,
disable,
overthrow,
demolish,
undo,
torpedo,
put paid to,
discomfit
in the sense of smash
Definition
to defeat or destroy
The authorities were trying to smash a smuggling ring.