Definition

1. Noun:

   • A mark left on the skin or other tissue after a wound, injury, or burn has healed: A scar is the visible, often permanent, result of the body's healing process.
   • A lasting sign of damage, trauma, or negative experience: Figuratively, a scar can refer to a lasting emotional or psychological effect from a difficult event.

2. Verb:

   • To mark with a scar: To cause a permanent mark on skin or a surface as a result of injury or damage.
   • To have a lasting negative emotional impact: To affect someone deeply, leaving lasting emotional damage.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Physical):

  • The surgery left a small scar on her knee.
  • He has a scar from a childhood accident on his chin.

• Noun (Figurative):

  • The war left deep psychological scars on the survivors.
  • The scandal was a scar on the company's reputation.

• Verb (Physical):

  • The acid scarred the metal surface.
  • A severe burn can scar the skin permanently.

• Verb (Figurative):

  • The traumatic experience scarred him for life.
  • Years of conflict have scarred the national psyche.

Advanced Usage

• "To bear a scar": To have or carry a scar, either physical or emotional.

  • She still bears the scars of that difficult period in her life.

• "A scar serves as a reminder": A phrase indicating that a scar makes one remember a past event.

  • The scar on his hand serves as a constant reminder of the danger.

Variants and Related Words

• Scarred (adj): Having scars.

  • The scarred veteran told stories of the battle.

• Scarring (n/adj): The process of forming a scar; causing scars.

  • The disease can lead to permanent scarring of the lungs.

• Scar tissue (n): The thick, fibrous tissue that forms during healing.

  • The doctor said the pain was due to internal scar tissue.

Synonyms

• Noun: Cicatrix (medical term), mark, blemish, seam.
• Verb: Mark, disfigure, blemish, mar.

Related Phrases

• "Without a scar": Unharmed or unaffected, with no lasting damage.

  • Miraculously, he emerged from the crash without a scar.

• "To heal old scars": To resolve past emotional wounds.

  • The reconciliation process helped heal old scars between the communities.

Idioms

• "A scar runs deep": Used to emphasize that an emotional wound is profound and lasting.

  • The betrayal was a scar that ran deep, affecting all his future relationships.

• "To be scarred by": To be deeply and lastingly affected by something negative.

  • A generation was scarred by the economic depression.

Noun

1. an indication of damage
2. a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

Verb

1. mark with a scar
   • The skin disease scarred his face permanently