score Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
    grade; mark.
    • she made good marks in algebra
    • grade A milk
    • what was your score on your homework?
  2. noun a written form of a musical composition; parts for different instruments appear on separate staves on large pages
    musical score.
    • he studied the score of the sonata
  3. noun a number that expresses the accomplishment of a team or an individual in a game or contest
    • the score was 7 to 0
  4. noun a set of twenty members
    • a score were sent out but only one returned
  5. noun grounds
    account.
    • don't do it on my account
    • the paper was rejected on account of its length
    • he tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful
  6. noun the facts about an actual situation
    • he didn't know the score
  7. noun an amount due (as at a restaurant or bar)
    • add it to my score and I'll settle later
  8. noun a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
    scotch.
  9. noun a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
    grievance; grudge.
    • holding a grudge
    • settling a score
  10. noun the act of scoring in a game or sport
    • the winning score came with less than a minute left to play
  11. noun a seduction culminating in sexual intercourse
    sexual conquest.
    • calling his seduction of the girl a `score' was a typical example of male slang
  12. verb gain points in a game
    rack up; tally; hit.
    • The home team scored many times
    • He hit a home run
    • He hit .300 in the past season
  13. verb make small marks into the surface of
    nock; mark.
    • score the clay before firing it
  14. verb make underscoring marks
    mark.
  15. verb write a musical score for
  16. verb induce to have sex
    make; seduce.
    • Harry finally seduced Sally
    • Did you score last night?
    • Harry made Sally
  17. verb get a certain number or letter indicating quality or performance
    • She scored high on the SAT
    • He scored a 200
  18. verb assign a grade or rank to, according to one's evaluation
    grade; mark.
    • grade tests
    • score the SAT essays
    • mark homework

WordNet

Score noun
Etymology
AS. scor twenty, fr. sceran, scieran, to shear, cut, divice; or rather the kindred Icel. skor incision, twenty, akin to Dan. skure a notch, Sw. skåra. See Shear.
Definitions
  1. A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account.
    Whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used. Shak.
  2. An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; hence, indebtedness.
    He parted well, and paid his score. Shak.
  3. Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf.
    But left the trade, as many more Have lately done on the same score. Hudibras.
    You act your kindness in Cydria's score. Dryden.
  4. The number twenty, as being marked off by a special score or tally; hence, in pl., a large number.
    Amongst three or four score hogsheads. Shak.
    At length the queen took upon herself to grant patents of monopoly by score. Macaulay.
  5. A distance of twenty yards; -- a term used in ancient archery and gunnery. Halliwell.
  6. A weight of twenty pounds. Prov. Eng.
  7. The number of points gained by the contestants, or either of them, in any game, as in cards or cricket.
  8. line drawn; a groove or furrow.
  9. (Mus.) The original and entire draught, or its transcript, of a composition, with the parts for all the different instruments or voices written on staves one above another, so that they can be read at a glance; -- so called from the bar, which, in its early use, was drawn through all the parts. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
Score transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scored ; present participle & verbal noun Scoring
Definitions
  1. To mark with lines, scratches, or notches; to cut notches or furrows in; to notch; to scratch; to furrow; as, to score timber for hewing; to score the back with a lash.
    Let us score their backs. Shak.
    A briar in that tangled wilderness Had scored her white right hand. M. Arnold.
  2. Especially, to mark with significant lines or notches, for indicating or keeping account of something; as, to score a tally.
  3. To mark or signify by lines or notches; to keep record or account; to set down; to record; to charge.
    Madam, I know when, Instead of five, you scored me ten. Swift.
    Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score. Shak.
  4. To engrave, as upon a shield. R. Spenser.
  5. To make a score of, as points, runs, etc., in a game.
  6. (Mus.) To write down in proper order and arrangement; as, to score an overture for an orchestra. See Score, n., 9.
  7. (Geol.) To mark with parallel lines or scratches; as, the rocks of New England and the Western States were scored in the drift epoch.

Webster 1913