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(1969-) a German racing driver, who has been the Formula
One world CHAMPION driver many times in the 1990s and
early 2000s
**Schu·mann, Rob·ert** /'ju:mən||-ma:n, 'rɒbət||'ra:bət/
(1810-56) a German COMPOSER who wrote symphonies (SYM-
PHONY) and many songs, but is best known for the music he
wrote for the piano. He was married to Clara Schumann
(1819-96), who was also a PIANIST and composer.
**schwa** /ʃwɑ:/ *n tech* a vowel sounded typically in word parts
spoken without STRESS (=special force) and shown in this
dictionary as /ə/ or /ɜ:/. The '*a*' in '*about*' is a *schwa*.
**Schwar·zen·eg·ger, Arnold** /'ʃwɔ:tsənɛgə ||'ʃwɔ:r-/
(1947-) a US actor born in Austria, who was a famous
BODYBUILDER (=someone who develops large muscles
through physical exercise), and then became an actor in
exciting violent films such as *Conan the Barbarian* (1982) and
*Total Recall* (1990). He is known for his large muscles, for
speaking English with a strong German accent, and for
saying 'I'll be back' in the film *The Terminator* (1984). He
became governor of California in 2003.
**Schweit·zer, Albert** /'ʃwaɪtsə/ (1875-1965) a German doc-
tor who went to Africa as a Christian MISSIONARY and
started a hospital, in 1913 in GABON, where he worked until
his death, especially treating people who were suffering from
LEPROSY. He was also a musician and a PHILOSOPHER, and he
was given the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE in 1952. He was known
especially for being very morally good.
**Schwim·mer, David** /'ʃwɪmə/ (1966-) a US actor known
especially for appearing as the character Ross Geller in the
television programme *Friends*
**sci·at·ic** /saɪ'ætɪk/ *adj med* of the HIPS: *the sciatic nerve*
(=along the back of the upper legs)
**sci·at·i·ca** /saɪ'ætɪkə/ *n* [U] *not tech* pain in the area of the
lower back, HIPS, and legs
**sci·ence** /'saɪəns/ *n* **1** [U] (the study of) knowledge which
can be made into a system and which usually depends on
seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws:
*Science has taught us how atoms are made up.* | *The computer*
*is one of the marvels of modern science.* | *a science teacher* |
*developments in science and technology* **2** [C;U] a branch of
such knowledge, especially **a)** any of the branches usually
studied at universities, such as BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS,
ENGINEERING, and sometimes MATHEMATICS: *government sup-*
*port for the sciences* ➔ compare ARTS; see also NATURAL
SCIENCE **b)** anything which may be studied exactly: *mili-*
*tary science* | *Do you think cooking is an art or a science?* ➔
see also SOCIAL SCIENCE, blind with science (BLIND)
**science 'fiction** also **sci-fi** /ˌsaɪ 'faɪ/ *infml* — *n* [U] stories
about imaginary future developments in science and their
effect on life, often concerned with space travel ➔ compare
FANTASY
**Science Mu·seum, the** a large MUSEUM in London
containing many important scientific objects, which show
the history and development of science and TECHNOLOGY
**science park** *n* an area where there are a lot of companies
that are concerned especially with new TECHNOLOGY and
scientific study
**ci-en-tif·ic** /ˌsaɪən'tɪfɪk/ *adj* **1** [no comp.] of or being
science or its principles or rules: *scientific equipment* | *scien-*
*tific research* | *scientific proof* **2** needing or showing exact
knowledge, skill, or use of a system; SYSTEMATIC: *scientific*
*baby care* | *We do keep accounts for the business, but we are*
*not very scientific about it.* ➔ opposite UNSCIENTIFIC —**ally**
/kli/ *adv*
**scientific A'merican** *trademark* a monthly magazine with
articles about new discoveries and developments in all the
sciences, written for educated readers ➔ compare NEW
SCIENTIST
**scientific 'method** *n* [C;U] a way of trying to prove the
truth or falsity of an idea by setting up a test (EXPERIMENT) in
which known things are controlled so that unknown things
may be determined, and so that others doing the same test
will get the same results
**ci-en-tist** /'saɪəntɪst/ *n* a person who works in a science,
especially PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, or BIOLOGY
**ci-en-tol-o-gy** /ˌsaɪən'tlədʒi||-'tɑ:-/ *trademark* a religion
that was started in the 1950s by the US writer L. Ron
Hubbard, officially called the Church of Scientology. It aims
to solve its members' problems in life and to improve their
ability to achieve what they want. —**Scientologist**
**Scil·ly Isles, the** /'sɪli ˌaɪlz/ also **the Isles of Scilly** a
group of about 140 small islands off southwest England, five
of which have people living on them. The Scilly Isles are
popular with tourists, and the weather there is warmer than
in the rest of Britain.
**scim·i·tar** /'sɪmɪtə/ *n* a sword with a curved blade that is
sharp on the outer edge, formerly used in the Middle East
**scin·til·la** /sɪn'tlə/ *n* [S(of) usually in questions and negatives] *fml* the
slightest bit: *There's not a scintilla of truth in what he says.*
**scin·til·late** /'sɪntɪleɪt/ *v* [I(with)] **1** *usually lit* to throw out
quick flashes of light or SPARKS **2** *apprec* to be full of life and
cleverness: *scintillating conversation* —**lation**
/ˌsɪntɪ'leʃən/ *n* [U]
**sci·on** /'saɪən/ *n* **1** a living part of a plant, usually a young
SHOOT that is cut off, especially for fixing onto another
plant as a GRAFT **2** [(of)] *lit* a young or most recent member of
a usually noble or famous family
scissors
scis·sors /'sɪzəz||-ərz/ *n* **1** [P] two sharp blades having
handles at one end with holes for the fingers, fastened at the
centre so that they open in the shape of the letter X and cut
when they close: *I need scissors/some scissors/a pair of*
*scissors for this job.* | *These scissors are very sharp.* ➔ com-
pare SHEARS; see PAIR (USAGE) **2** [S] a movement of the
body in certain sports, especially **a)** (in wrestling (WRES-
TLE)) a hold in which a person locks their legs round their
opponent **b)** (in the HIGH JUMP) a way of jumping in which
the person faces the bar as he or she goes over it
**,scis·sors-and-'paste** *adj* [A] *infml* (of printed matter) stuck
together from cut-up pieces: (fig.) *There's nothing new in the*
*book; it's just a scissors-and-paste job.* (=put together from
other writings)
**scle·ro·sis** /sklɪə'rəʊsɪs/ *n pl.* **-ses** /si:z/ [C;U(of)] *med* (a)
hardening of some usually soft organ or part of the body ➔
see also MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS —**tic** /sklɪə'rɒtɪk||-'rɑ:-/ *adj*
**scoff¹** /skɒf||skɔ:f, ska:f/ *v* [I(at)] to speak or act disrespect-
fully; laugh (at): *A hundred years ago people scoffed at the*
*idea that man would ever fly.* —**er** *n* [usually pl.]
**scoff²** *n* [usually pl.] an expression of laughing disrespect: *He*
*ignored the scoffs of the critics.*
**scoff³** *v* [T(UP)] *infml*, especially BrE to eat (especially all of
something) eagerly and fast: *Who's scoffed all the cake?*
**scoff·law** /'skɒf'lɔ:||'skɔ:f-, 'ska:f-/ *n* AmE someone who
disregards (usually less important) laws: *parking scofflaw*
**scold¹** /skəʊld/ *v* [T] *old-fash* to speak angrily and complain-
ingly to (someone who has done something wrong): *He was*
*severely scolded by his mother.* —**ing** *n* [C;U] *I'm in for*
*(=going to get) a scolding when I get home.*
**scold²** *n* [C usually sing.] *old* use a woman who is always
complaining or quarrelling
**scol·lop** /'skɒləp||'skɑ:-/ *n, v* SCALLOP
**sconce** /skɒns||skɑ:ns/ *n* a usually decorative holder which
may be fixed to a wall, for one or more candles or electric
lights; used especially in a church
**scone** /skɒn, skəʊn||skoʊn, ska:n/ also **biscuit** AmE — *n* a
soft usually round breadlike cake of a size for one person,
sometimes containing dried fruit