scoop´er

scoop «skoop», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a tool like a shovel, but having a short handle and a deep hollow part for dipping out or shoveling up and carrying loose materials: a) a kitchen utensil to take up flour, sugar, and the like. b) a large ladle. c) a utensil for dishing out a portion of ice cream, mashed potatoes, or other semisolids.

2. the part of a dredge or power shovel that takes up the coal, sand, or other like things.

3. the act of taking up with, or as if with, a scoop.

4. a) the amount taken up at one time by a scoop; scoopful: »

She used two scoops of flour and one of sugar.

b) Informal. a big haul, as of money made in speculation.

5. a place scooped or hollowed out; hollow: »

The rabbit hid in the scoop it had made in the earth.

SYNONYM(S): cavity.

6. Informal. a) the publishing of a piece of news before a rival newspaper does. SYNONYM(S): beat. b) the piece of news.

7. a spoonshaped surgical instrument used to extract matter from cavities.

–v.t.

1. a) to take up or out with a coop, or as a scoop does: »

Scoop out a quart of grain. The boys scooped up the snow with their hands to make snowballs.

b) Informal. to gather up or in as if with a scoop: »

Werner was with us when father scooped us all up and took us to the concert at the Stadium (Harper's).

2. to hollow out; dig out; make by scooping: »

The children scooped holes in the sand.

SYNONYM(S): excavate.

3. to empty with a scoop.

4. Informal. to publish a piece of news before (a rival newspaper).

5. Informal. to sing (a note or phrase) by sliding to the correct pitch from a note below: »

She is given to scooping her notes and is unable to produce convincing chest tones (New Yorker).

╂[< Middle Dutch schœpe bucket, and schoppe shovel]

–scoop´er, noun.