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scram

(skrăm) Slang

intr.v. scrammed, scram·ming, scrams

1. To leave a scene at once; go abruptly.

2. To shut down automatically. Used of a nuclear reactor.

A rapid shutting down of a nuclear reactor, especially in an emergency.

[Perhaps short for SCRAMBLE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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