Definition

1. Verb:

   • To move very quickly or hastily: To proceed with great speed, often in a straight line or with a sense of urgency.
   • To run or be driven before a gale (a strong wind): Specifically used in nautical contexts to describe a ship or clouds moving swiftly, driven by a powerful wind.

2. Noun:

   • The act of moving along swiftly: A swift, straight movement, often of clouds or ships driven by the wind.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Dark clouds scudded across the sky, threatening rain.
  • The small boat scudded before the gale, making for the safety of the harbor.
  • The children scudded down the hill on their sleds.

• Noun:

  • The scud of the clouds made the sunset dramatic.
  • The ship's progress was a steady scud before the powerful wind.

Advanced Usage

• "to scud along": to move swiftly and smoothly along a surface.

  • The sailboat scudded along the surface of the bay.

• "to scud past": to move quickly past something.

  • Several motorcycles scudded past us on the highway.

Variants and Related Words

• Scudding (n/adj): The action or instance of moving swiftly; moving swiftly.
  • We watched the scudding clouds from the hilltop.

Synonyms

• Verb: Dash, race, speed, fly, zoom, skim, sweep.
• Noun: Rush, dash, race.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically contained in the single verb form.)

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms that centrally feature the word "scud".)

Noun

1. the act of moving along swiftly (as before a gale)

Verb

1. run before a gale
2. run or move very quickly or hastily
   • She dashed into the yard