ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scalp

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈskæɫp// UK //skˈælp// scalp Archaic Dialect Slang

n. the skin on the top and back of your head where hair usually grows.

n. the anatomical area of the head extending from the forehead to the nape of the neck, consisting of skin and dense subcutaneous tissue.


SIMPLE

She massaged her scalp while washing her hair.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor examined the patient's scalp for signs of redness or irritation after the allergic reaction.

COMPLEX

The surgical procedure required a precise incision along the hairline to minimize visible scarring on the scalp while allowing access to the underlying tissue.

Origin

From Middle English scalp, skalp, scalpe (“crown of the head; skull”). Originally a northern word, and therefore probably from a North Germanic source, although the sense-development is unclear; compare Sylt North Frisian Skolp (“dandruff”), Old Norse skálpr (“sheath”), Old Swedish skalp, Dutch schelp (“shell”).

Usage

Commonly used with possessive adjectives like 'my', 'your', or 'his'.

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