scare

 
Pronunciation: /skɛː/

verb

[with object]
  • 1cause great fear or nervousness in; frighten: the rapid questions were designed to scare her into blurting out the truth
  • [with object and adverbial] drive or keep (someone) away by frightening them: the ugly scenes scared the holiday crowds away
  • [no object] become scared: I don’t think I scare easily

noun

  • a sudden attack of fright: gosh, that gave me a scare!
  • [usually with modifier] a general feeling of anxiety or alarm about something: bombs and bomb scares disrupted shopping

Phrasal Verbs

scare something up

informal, chiefly North American manage to find or obtain something: for a price, the box office can usually scare up a pair of tickets

Derivatives

scarer

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old Norse skirra 'frighten', from skjarr 'timid'