# scalp

/ˈskæɫp/ (US) · /skˈælp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scalp
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. skin on the head

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: the anatomical area of the head covered by hair, consisting of the skin and subcutaneous structures.

- He massaged the shampoo into his scalp to help with the dry skin.
- The surgeon made a careful incision along the scalp to access the underlying cranial bone while minimising visible scarring.

### 2. a victory

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a success or victory over a person or group, especially one that is difficult to achieve.

For teachers: a figurative trophy representing a victory over an opponent, often used in political or sporting contexts.

- The young tennis player claimed a major scalp by beating the world champion.
- The opposition party viewed the minister's resignation as a significant political scalp following the recent scandal.

### 3. to resell tickets

verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal · Slang

to buy tickets for an event and sell them again at a much higher price to make a profit.

For teachers: to engage in the unauthorised resale of tickets for a profit, typically at prices significantly above face value.

- People were trying to scalp tickets for the sold-out concert outside the stadium.
- The authorities cracked down on individuals attempting to scalp front-row seats for the championship final at triple their original price.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as 'tickets'.

Teaching tip: In British English, the term 'tout' is more common for this activity.

### 4. trading for small profits

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to buy and sell things very quickly in financial markets to make many small profits.

For teachers: to execute a high volume of trades within a very short timeframe to capture small price discrepancies.

- He spent the morning scalping small gains on the stock market.
- The trader specialised in scalping the bid-ask spread, relying on high-frequency algorithms to execute hundreds of orders per minute.

## Examples

- She massaged her scalp while washing her hair.
- The doctor examined the patient's scalp for signs of redness or irritation after the allergic reaction.
- The surgical procedure required a precise incision along the hairline to minimize visible scarring on the scalp while allowing access to the underlying tissue.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.