Library / English Dictionary

SCRIBBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An aimless drawing

Synonyms:

doodle; scrabble; scribble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("scribble" is a kind of...):

drawing (a representation of forms or objects on a surface by means of lines)

Derivation:

scribble (write down quickly without much attention to detail)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Poor handwriting

Synonyms:

cacography; scratch; scrawl; scribble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("scribble" is a kind of...):

hand; handwriting; script (something written by hand)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scribble"):

chicken scratch (cramped or illegible handwriting)

squiggle (an illegible scrawl)

Derivation:

scribble (write carelessly)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Write down quickly without much attention to detail

Synonyms:

scrabble; scribble

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "scribble" is one way to...):

write (communicate or express by writing)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scribble (an aimless drawing)

scribbler (informal terms for journalists)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Write carelessly

Synonyms:

scrawl; scribble

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "scribble" is one way to...):

write (mark or trace on a surface)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scribble (poor handwriting)

scribbler (a writer whose handwriting is careless and hard to read)

Credits

 Context examples: 

There he scribbled a short note for Stanley Hopkins, and left it with the lodge-keeper.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Holmes had received a telegram while we sat at our lunch, and he had scribbled a reply.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and I knew that he was writing me a note.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hence it follows of necessity, that vast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, pimping, flattering, suborning, forswearing, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, scribbling, star-gazing, poisoning, whoring, canting, libelling, freethinking, and the like occupations: every one of which terms I was at much pains to make him understand.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Yet as she scribbled, she kept her eye on her sister, who seemed unusually quiet.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Holmes scribbled a few words upon the back of one of his visiting cards and threw it over to Lestrade.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He scribbled a few words upon a leaf from his notebook.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He sat down at the table and scribbled a check, which he tore from the book, but he refrained from handing it to his companion.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Quite absorbed in her work, Jo scribbled away till the last page was filled, when she signed her name with a flourish and threw down her pen, exclaiming...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The brother scribbled a note upon a leaf of his pocket-book, and, ringing the bell, he handed it to the waiter.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)