scissors

attributive scissor · alternative obsolete cizars · alternative obsolete cizers · alternative archaic scissars · alternative obsolete sissors

1. countablepluralplural onlyusuallyA tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when the handles are closed.

   Near-synonym: shears

   5 more examples

   Those scissors are sharp.

   That scissors is sharp.

   Scissors are used to cut the flowers.

   Use scissors to cut them if you don't have proper shears.

   Roses will last longer if a knife rather than a scissors is used to cut the blooms.

   1947 June 22, “Around the Garden”, in New York Times

   Synonyms: shears, pair of scissors, shears

2. pluralplural onlyuncountableaeronauticsA type of defensive maneuver in dogfighting, involving repeatedly turning one's aircraft towards that of the attacker in order to force them to overshoot.
3. countablepluralplural onlyaeronauticsAn instance of the above dogfighting maneuver.
4. countablepluralplural onlyball gamesAn attacking move conducted by two players; the player without the ball runs from one side of the ball carrier, behind the ball carrier, and receives a pass from the ball carrier on the other side.

   They executed a perfect scissors.

5. countablepluralplural onlyhobbiesA method of skating with one foot significantly in front of the other.
6. countablepluralplural onlygymnasticsAn exercise in which the legs are switched back and forth, suggesting the motion of scissors.
7. countablepluralplural onlygovernmentA scissors hold.
8. pluralplural onlygamesA hand with the index and middle fingers open (a handshape resembling scissors), that beats paper and loses to rock. It beats lizard and loses to Spock in rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock.

alternative obsolete cizars · alternative obsolete cizers · alternative archaic scissars · alternative obsolete sissors

1. pluralrareplural of scissor

present singular third person scissorses · participle present scissorsing · participle past scissorsed · past scissorsed · alternative obsolete cizars · alternative obsolete cizers · alternative archaic scissars · alternative obsolete sissors

1. raretransitiveRare form of scissor (“to cut using, or as if using, scissors”).

   She found her in the dining-room with Ann Foster, the little dressmaker, who was endeavouring to scissors through the right side of her underlip with her teeth as proof that the compiling of a list of requisites was no tax to her.

   1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 175

alternative obsolete cizars · alternative obsolete cizers · alternative archaic scissars · alternative obsolete sissors

1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of scissor

alternative obsolete cizars · alternative obsolete cizers · alternative archaic scissars · alternative obsolete sissors

1. datedCry of anguish or frustration.

   Then sit down—make yourself at home. Ah, scissors.

   1913, Richard Claude Carton, Public Opinion: A Farce in Three Acts, London: Samuel French, Ltd., page 81

   2 more examples

   Say, wouldn’t it put your eye out to get a letter from one of the kiddies with the thumb‐prints of that crest not doing a thing but snuggling down in the wax on the envelope? Oh, scissors!

   1909, Edward Waterman Townsend, chapter II, in The Climbing Courvatels, New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, page 30

   “Scissors!” he shouted and stuck his finger in his mouth.

   1911, William Caine, chapter XIV, in The Revolt at Roskelly’s, New York & London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, page 270