Sekirov Dictionary

scram

/skɹæm/

noun 5
verb 7
forms 8

noun5

•
[before a noun] A shutdown of a nuclear reactor (or, by extension, some other thing), often done rapidly due to an emergency.
- By the time scram is completed, coolant temperatures would likely be climbing due to the combination of a large heat capacity within the fuel pins and low coolant flow. — 1981
•
The device used to shut down a nuclear reactor; also, the button or switch used to initiate a shutdown.
- Each room housing a radiation source has a red-buttoned "scram" switch on the wall. One touch of the switch and all equipment stops abruptly. — 1963
•
(slang) A gun, firearm.
- Bad be say she don’t usually do this In the trap with a stick, I do this Get ’round there with a scram I don’t give a damn — 2021
(Wales) A scratch, especially caused by claws or fingernails.
•
(US, no longer used) A mine previously worked on where most of the ore is believed to have been removed, but which is still being mined on a small scale.
- There are numbered workings running to about 20, representing small pits and scrams, sometimes worked by contract by "scrammers." — 1891

verb7

•
To leave in a hurry; to go away.
- What are you kids doing on my lawn? Scram!
•
To shut down (a nuclear reactor or, by extension, some other thing) for safety reasons, usually because of an emergency.
- Startup of reactor recirculating pump resulted in flux spike scraming plant. — 1978
•
Of a nuclear reactor or some other thing: to shut down, usually because of an emergency.
- This shut off current to the control rod mechanism, and the reactor scrammed (shut off) automatically. — 1984
(Wales) To scratch (something) with claws or fingernails; to claw.
•
(US, no longer used) To mine for ore on a small scale, especially from mines previously been worked on where most of the ore is believed to have been removed.
- Just west of this pit is another one, which has been nearly worked out; but three men are scramming about five tons per day in it. — 1880
•
(dialect, no longer used) Of one's body or limbs: to become numb or stiff due to cold, lack of movement, etc.
- The bean-setters can fully appreciate the nipping, biting keenness of the air, and avow frankly, in their own peculiar idiom, "that they be pretty nigh scrammed!" — 1857
(dialect, no longer used) To be weakened by an accident, a disease, starvation, etc.

forms

SCRAMed · scramed · scrammed · SCRAMing · scraming · scramming · SCRAMs · scrams

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