Word
scum
US/ˈskəm/
UK/skˈʌm/
Definitions
01surface dirt
n. a layer of dirt, bubbles, or waste that forms on the surface of a liquid like water or soup.
n. a layer of impurities, organic matter, or chemical waste that accumulates at the surface of a liquid.
“A thick green scum had formed on the surface of the abandoned pond.”
“The industrial runoff resulted in a greyish scum coating the riverbanks, alarming local environmentalists about the water quality.”
02insult for people
n. a very rude word for people you think are bad, dishonest, or have no morals.
n. a highly derogatory collective or singular noun for individuals perceived as worthless, contemptible, or morally bankrupt.
“He called the people who stole from the charity 'absolute scum'.”
“The tabloid press frequently refers to violent criminals as the scum of the earth to incite public indignation.”
Informal · Slang · Vulgar
Usage
Often used as a collective noun without an 's' to refer to a group of people.
Teaching tip
This is a very strong and aggressive insult; students should be aware of its severity and generally avoid using it themselves.
03to remove surface dirt
v. to take the layer of dirt or waste off the top of a liquid.
v. to remove the layer of impurities or froth from the surface of a liquid, such as molten metal or a cooking stock.
“The chef told his assistant to scum the boiling soup to keep the broth clear.”
“In traditional metallurgy, the technician must carefully scum the molten lead to ensure the final casting is free of structural defects.”
Technical
Usage
In modern cooking, 'skim' is much more common than 'scum'.
Real-World Examples
“The researchers found that both microalgal scum and macroalgal mats increased globally between 2003 and 2022.” Etymology
From Middle English scum, scome, skum, skome, scumme, from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch schūme (“foam”), from Old Dutch scūm, from Frankish skūm, from Proto-Germanic skūmaz (“froth, foam”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”). Cognate with Dutch schuim (“foam”), West Frisian skuum, German Schaum (“foam”), Danish and Swedish skum (“foam”). Compare also French écume (“scum”), Italian schiuma (“foam”), Saterland Frisian Skuum, Sicilian scuma (“foam”), Walloon schome (“scum, foam”), Lithuanian šamas (“catfish”) and skanus (“tasty”) from the same Germanic source. Related to skim.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
scum of the earth — An undesirable individual; the worst type of person or people.