# scar

/ˈskɑɹ/ (US) · /skˈɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scar
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. mark on the skin

noun · CEFR B1

a permanent mark on your skin that stays after a cut, burn, or wound heals.

For teachers: a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not completely healed and fibrous connective tissue has developed.

- He has a small scar on his knee from a cycling accident when he was ten.
- The surgeon explained that while the incision was necessary, the resulting scar would fade significantly over the next twelve months.

### 2. emotional damage

noun · CEFR B2

a lasting feeling of sadness or fear caused by a very bad experience in the past.

For teachers: a lasting psychological effect or emotional trauma resulting from a distressing experience.

- The war left deep mental scars on the soldiers who returned home.
- Psychologists noted that the childhood neglect had left invisible scars that continued to influence his adult relationships and self-esteem.

### 3. rocky cliff

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a steep, rocky cliff or a part of a mountain where rocks stick out.

For teachers: a steep high cliff or a prominent rock outcrop, particularly common in the limestone districts of northern England.

- We climbed up the limestone scar to see the view across the valley.
- The rugged scar dominated the landscape, its grey limestone face contrasting sharply with the lush green fields below.

Usage: Primarily used in geographical contexts in Northern England.

### 4. to leave a mark

verb · CEFR B2

to leave a permanent mark on someone's skin or mind.

For teachers: to mark with a scar, whether through physical injury or psychological trauma. Often used in the passive voice.

- The hot oil splashed his arm and scarred him for life.
- The landscape was scarred by years of open-cast mining, leaving deep pits where forests once stood.

## Examples

- He has a small scar on his knee from a childhood fall.
- The surgeon explained that while the incision would heal quickly, it would leave a thin permanent scar.
- The landscape still bears the deep scars of industrial mining, with vast pits and barren hillsides serving as a reminder of the region's heavy manufacturing past.

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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.