The AI-powered English dictionary
countable and uncountable, plural scums
(uncountable) A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water). examples
(uncountable) A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds examples
The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank. examples
(uncountable, slang, chiefly US) Semen. quotations
Horse, who was always talking about facts, said, “Man, that can't be scum, ’cause scum is white.”
1965, Claude Brown, Manchild in the Promised Land, New York: New American Library, page 80
(derogatory, slang) A reprehensible person or persons.
third-person singular simple present scums, present participle scumming, simple past and past participle scummed
To remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.). examples
To remove (something) as scum. quotations examples
Some scumd the drosse, that from the metall came; / Some stird the molten owre with ladles great […].
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie
To become covered with scum. quotations examples
Take the smallest Cucumbers you can get, and as free from Spots as possible, put them into a strong Salt and Water for nine or ten Days, or 'till they are quite Yellow, and stir them twice a Day at least, or they will scum over, and grow soft
1769, Elizabeth Raffald, The Experienced English House-keeper, pages 321–322
(obsolete) To scour (the land, sea, etc.). quotations
SOo by Merlyns aduys ther were sente fore rydars to skumme the Countreye / & they mette with the fore rydars of the north / and made hem to telle whiche wey the hooste cam / and thenne they told it to Arthur / and by kyng Ban and Bors counceill they lete brenne and destroye alle the contrey afore them there they shold ryde(please add an English translation of this quotation)
1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book I
Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates.
1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […]
(obsolete) To gather together, as scum. quotations
A great majority of the members are scummed together from the Jacobinical dregs of former periods of the revolution.
1815, Rudolf Ackerman, Frederic Shoberl, The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics
(video games, informal) To startscum or savescum. examples