scissors
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
c.1350–1400 Middle English sisoures < Old French cisoires < Vulgar Latin *cīsōria, plural of Late Latin cīsōrium (“‘cutting tool’”) (compare chisel); from Latin word root -cīsus (compare excise) or cæsus, past participle of cædere (“‘to cut’”).
- Current spelling, from the 16th century, is by association with Mediaeval Latin scissor (“tailor”), from Latin carrying the meaning “carver, cutter”, from scindere (“‘to split’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- (RP) IPA: /ˈsɪzəz/, SAMPA: /"sIz@z/
- (US) enPR: sĭzʹərz, IPA: /ˈsɪzɚz/, SAMPA: /"sIz@`z/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -ɪzə(r)z
[edit] Noun
scissors
- (plural only; not used in singular form) A type of 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; the tool is operated by one hand by putting the thumb and a finger or fingers through holes at the ends of the blades that are opposite to the cutting edges.
- A single pair of scissors.
- 1947 Jun 22, “Around the Garden”, New York Times:
- Roses will last longer if a knife rather than a scissors is used to cut the blooms.
- 1947 Jun 22, “Around the Garden”, New York Times:
[edit] Usage notes
- "A pair of scissors" is preferred to "a scissors" by about a four-to-one margin in the US (COCA).
- "The scissors" is preferred to "the scissor" by about a thirty-to-one margin in the US (COCA).
[edit] Synonyms
- (tool used for cutting): pair of scissors
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
tool used for cutting
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[edit] Verb
scissors
- Third-person singular simple present indicative form of scissor.