scramble

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scram|ble /skr'æmbəl/ (scrambles scrambling scrambled)
1 [VERB] V prep/adv
If you scramble over rocks or up a hill, you move quickly over them or up it using your hands to help you.
Tourists were scrambling over the rocks looking for the perfect camera angle...
= clamber
2 [VERB] V prep/adv
If you scramble to a different place or position, you move there in a hurried, awkward way.
Ann threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed...
3 [VERB] V for n, V to-inf
If a number of people scramble for something, they compete energetically with each other for it.
More than three million fans are expected to scramble for tickets...
Business is booming and foreigners are scrambling to invest.
[N-COUNT] usu sing, oft N for n, N to-inf
Scramble is also a noun.
...a scramble to get a seat on the early morning flight.
4 [VERB] V n
If you scramble eggs, you break them, mix them together and then heat and stir the mixture in a pan.
Make the toast and scramble the eggs.
● scrambled [ADJ] usu ADJ n
...scrambled eggs and bacon.
5 [VERB] V n
If a device scrambles a radio or telephone message, it interferes with the sound so that the message can only be understood by someone with special equipment.
The latest machines scramble the messages so that the conversation cannot easily be intercepted.

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