Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Scissors |
ScissorsNoun1. And edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades. 2. A wrestling hold in which you wrap your legs around the opponents body or head and put your feet together and squeeze. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "scissors" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1379. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Dream Interpretation | To dream of scissors is an unlucky omen; wives will be jealous and distrustful of their husbands, and sweethearts will quarrel and nag each other into crimination and recrimination. Dulness will overcast business horizons. To dream that you have your scissors sharpened, denotes that you will work to do that which will be repulsive to your feelings. To break them, there will be quarrels, and probable separations for you. To lose them, you will seek to escape from unpleasant tasks. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted .... |
Mechanical Engineering | Pivoted links preventing relative rotation between cylinder and piston of oleo shockstrut. Source: European Union. (references) |
Medicine | A cutting instrument with apposed blades and handles on a central fulcrum. Source: European Union. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Different types of scissors: sewing, kitchen, paperScissors are a tool used for cutting thin material which requires little force. They are used for cutting, for example, paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin plastic, food, cloth, rope and wire. They are also used for cutting hair and nails.
Unlike a knife it has two hinged blades. Most types of scissors are not particularly sharp; it is primarily the friction between the two blades which cuts.
Better than a knife, scissors can be used for cutting out a newspaper article, a picture, etc.
Specialized Scissors
- Pinking shears are scissors with a serrated edge.
- Tin snips are scissors for cutting through sheet metal, for example tin plate.
- Pruning shears and secateurs are scissors for cutting through branches of tree and shrubs.
- Bolt cutters cut through heavy wire and bolts
- A Hemostat resembles a pair of scissors but has a locking clamp instead of a blade; it is used in surgery
Scissors is also a party game as is Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Scissors."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Scissors is a party game. Ideally it is played with a group of around 10 people of whom 2 or 3 have played before. Players need to be "reasonably" mature since the game becomes very frustrating and young children will neither understand nor enjoy it. Probably 12 is a sensible minimum age.Warning: Wikipedia contains spoilers
Play
The players sit on chairs in a circle (without a table in the way) and have an object (say an empty plastic drinks bottle). In turn, each player passes the object to the player on their left stating whether they are passing the scissors open or passing the scissors closed. As each player does this the others say whether thay have got it right - obviously the players who already know the game are the arbiters of rightness. The objective of the game is to work out what is going on!
Players go through various stages:
- Confusion - what is this stupid game about?
- Analysis - Ah, the scissors aren't real, we are pretending that the bottle is a pair of scissors and I must work out when it is open and when closed...
- Attempt 1: open when passed top first, closed if passed bottom first
- Attempt 2: open if bottle top removed and passed separately, closed if bottle top fixed to bottle
- Attempt 3: It has nothing to do with the bottle, open if passed with left hand, closed if passed with right hand
- Attempt 4: It has nothing to do with the bottle, open if previous player has his eyes open, closed if they are closed
- Attempt 5: etc etc etc
- Despair - This isn't a game, this is stupid. I'm going to give up soon.
- At this point the players who know want to start ensuring that the scheme is steadily more and more obvious.
- Success - Suddenly players will start to realise what is happening and then they can join in with the correction of others incorrect passing.
- It is wise to require "successful" players to prove they understand what is happening by requesting them to pass the scissors open or closed at the whim of those who do know. Often even now their analysis is wrong (or slightly wrong).
- For those really struggling with it, it may be necessary eventually to really exaggerate the scissor passing. When everybody knows, the game ends.
- Note that once you have played this, you can never play it again except as one in the know.
The solution
The key to this game is that "scissors" are passed closed if your legs (or even ankles) are crossed and open if uncrossed.
If you do not know the scheme, it is a bad idea to cheat and look it up since it spoils all your fun in the satisfaction of solving the game.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Scissors (game)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Scissors is a town located in Hidalgo County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,805.Geography
Scissors is located at 26°8'13" North, 98°2'43" West (26.136871, -98.045308)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.4 km² (1.7 mi²). 4.4 km² (1.7 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 2,805 people, 604 households, and 561 families residing in the town. The population density is 633.3/km² (1,642.9/mi²). There are 673 housing units at an average density of 152.0/km² (394.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 77.68% White, 0.04% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 20.96% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 99.22% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 604 households out of which 65.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.8% are married couples living together, 15.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 7.1% are non-families. 6.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 1.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.64 and the average family size is 4.83. In the town the population is spread out with 43.1% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 13.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.6 males. The median income for a household in the town is $18,963, and the median income for a family is $19,229. Males have a median income of $15,172 versus $14,438 for females. The per capita income for the town is $4,914. 51.6% of the population and 47.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 59.6% are under the age of 18 and 52.3% are 65 or older.Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Scissors, Texas."
Synonyms: ScissorsSynonyms: pair of scissors (n), scissor grip (n), scissors grip (n), scissors hold (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Choice | Selection, excerption, gleaning, eclecticism; excerpta, gleanings, cuttings, scissors and paste; pick; (best). |
Sharpness | Wedge; knife edge, cutting edge; blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor; scalpel; bistoury, lancet; plowshare, coulter, colter; hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill; billhook, cleaver, cutter; scythe, sickle; scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter; sword; (arms); bodkin; (perforator); belduque, bowie knife, paring knife; bushwhacker; drawing knife, drawing shave; microtome; chisel, screwdriver blade; flint blade; guillotine. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Scissors |
| English words defined with "scissors": Cizar, Cizars, clipper, clippers ♦ Dressing forceps ♦ Elbow scissors, Enterotome ♦ Grafting scissors ♦ scissor, shears, sidestroke, snuffers. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "scissors": twin scissors. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "scissors": Forficula. (references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | No scissors. Just clippers (The Rock; writing credit: David Weisberg; Douglas Cook) There's a maniac lives there and he's dangerousI was standing in my yard one day when his Mama come out yelling, 'He's killin' us all.' Turned out that Boo was sitting in the living room cutting up the paper for his scrapbook, and when his daddy come by, he reached over with his scissors, stabbed him in his leg, pulled them out, and went right on cutting the paper (To Kill a Mockingbird; writing credit: Harper Lee; Horton Foote) Something without which no ribbon-cutting ceremony could proceed: the ceremonial oversized scissors. (Futurama; writing credit: Lance Smith; Carl Colpaert) Rock, paper, scissors, gun (Law & Order; writing credit: Peter Yeldham) A tailor, murdered with a pair of scissors. (He Knows You're Alone; writing credit: Scott Parker) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Scissors (1966) The Sorcerer's Scissors (1907) Running with Scissors (2002) Safety with Scissors (2001) Running with Scissors (2000) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References | |||
Books | |||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Shown are the hands of a technician performing a test. Visible are the test tubes she is working on and a pair of scissors, which she uses in her work. She is performing some basic research concerning breast cancer. Credit: Linda Bartlett (photographer). |  | Scissors and lawnmower sharpener, Saint George, Utah. He originally lived in Middlewest and came to Utah for his health. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Burley, Idaho. Scissors grinder. Credit: Library of Congress. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Scissors 2" by Per Hardestam Commentary: "Old Swedish scissors. Long cast shadows." | "Scissors" by M.Jander Commentary: "In the bathroom again." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Play | Caption |
 | Scissors cutting paper. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Benjamin Franklin | A single man resembles the odd half of a pair of scissors. |
Sydney Smith | Married couples resemble a pair of scissors, often moving in opposite directions, yet punishing anyone who gets in between them. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | And then they have cut your flesh with scissors. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Take extra care not to cut or nick yourself when using scissors, needles, knives, or tools. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Scissors" is generally used as a noun (plural) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Scissors" is used about 441 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (plural) | 100% | 441 | 13,108 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
1. Scissors, TX (CDP, FIPS 66248) |
Expressions using "scissors": a pair of scissors ♦ cuticle scissors ♦ Elbow scissors ♦ Grafting scissors ♦ landing gear scissors ♦ LG scissors ♦ nail scissors ♦ pair of scissors ♦ probe scissors ♦ pruning scissors ♦ scissors and paste ♦ scissors bill ♦ scissors grinder ♦ scissors grip ♦ scissors hold ♦ scissors jump ♦ scissors kick ♦ twin scissors. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "scissors": scissors-and-paste, scissors-over-comb, Scissors-tailed. | |
Ending with "scissors": grape-scissors, nail-scissors. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
scissors | 645 | leg scissors | 16 |
running with scissors | 91 | body scissors | 15 |
paper rock scissors | 80 | nail scissors | 14 |
singer scissors | 66 | ceremonial scissors | 14 |
hair scissors | 47 | scissors sharpening | 14 |
electric scissors | 45 | clipart scissors | 14 |
multifunctional scissors | 45 | sharpen scissors | 14 |
head scissors | 41 | surgical scissors | 14 |
scissors singer smart | 32 | fiskar scissors | 13 |
scissors lift | 31 | smart scissors | 13 |
fiskars scissors | 26 | mundial scissors | 12 |
craft scissors | 22 | embroidery scissors | 12 |
mpeg scissors | 21 | cuticle scissors | 12 |
barber scissors | 21 | electric scissors singer | 11 |
hair cutting scissors | 19 | bandage scissors | 11 |
wiss scissors | 18 | ribbon cutting scissors | 11 |
scissors picture | 18 | folding scissors | 11 |
clip art scissors | 18 | scissors wrestling | 10 |
gingher scissors | 17 | manicure scissors | 10 |
sewing scissors | 16 | dritz electric scissors | 10 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "scissors"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | skêr. (various references) | |
Albanian | gërshërë (billhook, clippers). (various references) | |
Arabic | مقص (pang), إطباقات المقص. (various references) | |
Asturian | tisories. (various references) | |
Basque | guraize. (various references) | |
Bemba | sisasi. (various references) | |
Blackfoot | sisóya'tsis. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | ножица (cutter), ножици (clips, snippers, snips). (various references) | |
Catalan | tisores, ganivet (knife). (various references) | |
Cebuano | gunting. (various references) | |
Chamorro | tieras. (various references) | |
Chinese | 剪刀 . (various references) | |
Cornish | gwelsow býghan. (various references) | |
Czech | nùžky, nůžky. (various references) | |
Danish | saks (billet shears, brace, chisel, overarm support, shears, steel trap, trap). (various references) | |
Dutch | schaar (pincers, tongs). (various references) | |
Ecuadorian Quechua | rutuna. (various references) | |
Esperanto | tondilo. (various references) | |
Faeroese | saksur. (various references) | |
Farsi | مقراض , چیزبرنده , قیچی (Tweezer), قطع کننده (Hewer, Secant). (various references) | |
Finnish | sakset (shears). (various references) | |
French | ciseaux. (various references) | |
Frisian | skjirre. (various references) | |
German | Schere (claw, clippers, divide, nipper, pincer, scissors [Pl.], shear, shears, wire cutters). (various references) | |
Greek | σύνδεσμοι στρέψης (nutcracker, torque links), συνδετική διαγώνια γραμμή, ψαλίσ, ψαλίδια, ψαλίδι (clipper, shears). (various references) | |
Hebrew | מספרים (cutters, secateurs, shears). (various references) | |
Hungarian | olló (shear, shears, trimmer). (various references) | |
Indonesian | gunting (clip, clippers, nipper, shears). (various references) | |
Inuktitut | kitjautiik. (various references) | |
Italian | forbici (clipper, clippers, snip). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 鋏 , 剪刀 (punch). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | せんとう (bath-house, battle, combat, cusp, fight, first, head, lead, pinnacle, point, pointed end, public bath, punch, ship's lamp, spire, starting pitcher, steeple, trampling down, vanguard), はさみ. (various references) | |
Korean | 가위 (shear, shears, sheers). (various references) | |
Macedonian | nozici. (various references) | |
Manx | cab ry cheilley, builley shuddyragh. (various references) | |
Maori | kutikuti. (various references) | |
Norwegian | saks. (various references) | |
Occitan | talhants (cisèls). (various references) | |
Papago | chihil. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | issorsscay.(various references) | |
Polish | nożyczki. (various references) | |
Portuguese | tesoura (cramp, shear). (various references) | |
Provencal | cisèls. (various references) | |
Romanian | foarfece (claws, clipper, shear, shears). (various references) | |
Romany | khakh. (various references) | |
Russian | ножницы (shears). (various references) | |
Samoan | seleulu. (various references) | |
Scottish | siosar (a scissors). (various references) | |
Sepedi | sekero. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | makaze (clippers). (various references) | |
Shona | chigero. (various references) | |
Sicilian | paru di forfici. (various references) | |
Spanish | tijeras (alligator shears, clippers, shears). (various references) | |
Sranan | sisey, sesey. (various references) | |
Swedish | sax (sax, shears, trap). (various references) | |
Thai | กรรไกรเล็กสำหรับตัดเล็บ (nail scissors). (various references) | |
Turkish | makas (a pair of scissors, bracket, clippers, points, switch). (various references) | |
Turkmen | gaяcy. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | ножиці (shears, snippers). (various references) | |
Welsh | siswrn. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | axicia, bracchium, forfex. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Jeremiah Chapter 52, Verse 18 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | Kai thn stefanhn kai taV fialaV kai taV kreagraV kai panta ta skeuh ta calka en oiV eleitourgoun en autoiV |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Et lebetas et creagras et psalteria et fialas et mortariola et omnia vasa aerea quae in ministerio fuerant tulerunt |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | And cawdrones, and fleshokes, and sautrees, and violis, and litil morteres, and alle the brasene vesselis, that weren in seruyse; and thei toke the stenes, |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, they took away. |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | And the pots and the spades and the scissors for the lights and the spoons, and all the brass vessels used in the Lord's house, they took away. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Jeremiah Chapter 52, Verse 18 |
| Cebuano | Ang mga kawa usab, ug ang mga pala, ug ang mga kumpit nga igpapalong, ug ang mga dolang, ug ang mga cuchara, ug ang tanang mga tumbaga nga sudlanan nga ilang pagagamiton sa pag-alagad, ilang gipanagdala. |
| Croatian | Uzeše i lonce, lopate, noževe, posudice i uopæe sav tuèani pribor koji se upotrebljavao za bogoslužja. |
| Danish | Karrene, Skovlene, knivene og Kanderne og alle Kobbersagerne, som brugtes ved Tjenesten, røvede de; |
| Dutch | Ook namen zij de potten en de schoffelen, en de gaffelen, en de sprengbekkens, en de rookschalen, en al de koperen vaten, waar men den dienst mede deed. |
| Finnish | Ja kattilat, lapiot, veitset, maljat, kupit ja kaikki vaskikalut, joita oli käytetty jumalanpalveluksessa, he ottivat pois. |
| French | Ils prirent les cendriers, les pelles, les couteaux, les coupes, les tasses, et tous les ustensiles d`airain avec lesquels on faisait le service. |
| German | Und die Kessel, Schaufeln, Messer, Becken, Kellen und alle ehernen Gefäße, die man im Gottesdienst pflegte zu brauchen, nahmen sie weg. |
| Hungarian | A fazekakat is és a lapátokat, a késeket és a medenczéket, a tömjénezõket és a rézedényeket, a melyekkel szolgálnak vala, mind elvivék. |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | Mereka juga mengangkut barang-barang ini: penyodok-penyodok, tempat abu mezbah, perkakas-perkakas pelita, mangkuk-mangkuk untuk menampung darah binatang yang disembelih untuk kurban, mangkuk-mangkuk untuk membakar dupa, dan semua barang perunggu lainnya yang dipakai untuk upacara ibadat. |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | Dan lagi dibawanya serta akan segala periuk dan penyodok dan serampang dan bokor percikan dan cerana dan segala perkakasan tembaga, yang terpakai kepada ibadat itu. |
| Italian | Essi presero ancora le caldaie, le palette, i coltelli, i bacini per l'aspersione, le coppe e tutti gli arredi di bronzo che servivano al culto. |
| Maori | I maua atu ano e ratou nga pata, nga koko pungarehu, nga kutikuti rama, nga peihana, nga koko, me nga oko parahi katoa mo a ratou mahi tapu. |
| Norwegian | De tok også askebøttene og ildskuffene og knivene og bollene til å sprenge blod med og røkelseskålene og alle kobberkarene som hadde vært brukt til tjenesten. |
| Portuguese | Também tomaram as caldeiras, as pás, as espevitadeiras, as bacias, as colheres, e todos os utensílios de bronze, com que se ministrava. |
| Rumanian | Au luat oalele, lopeyile, cuyitele, potirele, cewtile wi toate uneltele de aramq cu cari se fqcea slujba. |
| Spanish | También se llevaron las ollas, las palas, las despabiladeras, los cucharones y todos los utensilios de bronce con que servían. |
| Swedish | Och askkärlen, skovlarna, knivarna, de båda slagen av skålar och alla kopparkärl som hade begagnats vid gudstjänsten togo de bort. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Misspellings | |
"Scissors" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: cessors, Escossoys, scisasors, scisor, scisors, Scissars, scissers, scissiors, scissory, scizzors, sicsors, sissor, sissors, swissors. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "scissors" (pronounced si"zerz) |
| 4 | -i" z er z | visors. |
| 3 | -z er z | abusers, accusers, advertisers, advisers, advisors, analyzers, appetizers, appraisers, blazers, browsers, bulldozers, Caesars, cleansers, colonizers, composers, cruisers, exercisers, fertilizers, franchisers, freezers, fundraisers, geysers, incisors, ionizers, itemizers, lasers, losers, merchandisers, mousers, organizers, raisers, razors, stabilizers, stargazers, sterilizers, supervisors, sympathizers, synthesizers, trailblazers, tranquilizers, trousers, tweezers, users. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "c-i-o-r-s-s-s-s" | |
-1 letter: scissor. | |
-3 letters: coirs, cross. | |
-4 letters: coir, cors, coss, cris, orcs, rocs, sics, sirs, sori, sris. | |
-5 letters: cis, cor, cos, orc, ors, roc, sic, sir, sis, sos, sri. | |
| Words containing the letters "c-i-o-r-s-s-s-s" | |
+2 letters: crisscross. | |
+3 letters: rescissions. | |
+4 letters: accessorises, cloistresses, crisscrossed, crisscrosses, scissortails. | |
+5 letters: crisscrossing, curiousnesses, cursorinesses. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Sounds 10. Quotations: Familiar 11. Quotations: Fiction 12. Quotations: Non-fiction | 13. Usage Frequency 14. Cities 15. Expressions 16. Expressions: Internet | 17. Translations: Modern 18. Translations: Ancient 19. Bible Trace 20. Derivations | 21. Rhymes 22. Anagrams 23. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
