[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/scum/)

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# scum

noun (scum — uncountable)

«scum» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A dirty layer that forms on top of a liquid, like on a pond or bath water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#m1)
2. An insulting word for people thought to be very bad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and everyday life, scum forms on a pond, on boiling water when cooking, or around the bath (soap scum). Pupils may notice scum in experiments when making things like soap. Phrases: soap scum, pond scum, skim off the scum.

### Examples

- There was green scum on the pond. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x1)
- Skim the scum off the soup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x2)
- Soap scum makes the bath look dirty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x3)
- The scum floated on top of the water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x4)
- We cleaned the scum from the fish tank. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x5)
- Do not drink water with scum on it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x6)
- I take them when they come in my way, but I do not hunt the Bandar-log, or frogs--or green scum on a water-hole, for that matter.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/#x7)

### Note

Uncountable: "some scum", not "a scum". Using "scum" about people is very rude; do not call people that. Safety: scum on a pond can mean the water is dirty or has harmful algae; keep pets and children out.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «scum» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scum/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scum» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scum.html) on Mova free.