score (scores plural & 3rd person present) (scoring present participle) (scored past tense & past participle )
In meaning 9, the plural form is score.
1 verb In a sport or game, if a player scores a goal or a point, they gain a goal or point.
Against which country did Ian Wright score his first international goal?... V n
England scored 282 in their first innings... V n
Gascoigne almost scored in the opening minute. V
2 verb If you score a particular number or amount, for example as a mark in a test, you achieve that number or amount.
Kelly had scored an average of 147 on three separate IQ tests... V n
Congress as an institution scores low in public opinion polls. V adv
3 n-count Someone's score in a game or test is a number, for example, a number of points or runs, which shows what they have achieved or what level they have reached.
The U.S. Open golf tournament was won by Ben Hogan, with a score of 287..., There was also a strong link between children's low maths scores and parents' numeracy problems.
4 n-count The score in a game is the result of it or the current situation, as indicated by the number of goals, runs, or points obtained by the two teams or players.
4-1 was the final score..., They beat the Giants by a score of 7 to 3...
5 verb If you score a success, a victory, or a hit, you are successful in what you are doing.
WRITTEN In recent months, the rebels have scored some significant victories... V n
6 n-count The score of a film, play, or similar production is the music which is written or used for it.
The dance is accompanied by an original score by Henry Torgue.
7 n-count The score of a piece of music is the written version of it.
He recognizes enough notation to be able to follow a score.
8 quant If you refer to scores of things or people, you are emphasizing that there are very many of them.
WRITTEN QUANT of pl-n (emphasis)
Campaigners lit scores of bonfires in ceremonies to mark the anniversary.
9 num A score is twenty or approximately twenty.
WRITTEN usu a/num NUM
A score of countries may be producing or planning to obtain chemical weapons...
10 verb If you score a surface with something sharp, you cut a line or number of lines in it.
Lightly score the surface of the steaks with a knife. V n
11 If you keep score of the number of things that are happening in a certain situation, you count them and record them.
keep score phrase V inflects, oft PHR of n
You can keep score of your baby's movements before birth by recording them on a kick chart.
12 If you know the score, you know what the real facts of a situation are and how they affect you, even though you may not like them.
SPOKEN
know the score phrase V inflects
I don't feel sorry for Carl. He knew the score, he knew what he had to do and couldn't do it.
13 You can use on that score or on this score to refer to something that has just been mentioned, especially an area of difficulty or concern.
on that/this score phrase
I became pregnant easily. At least I've had no problems on that score...
14 If you score a point over someone, or score points off them, you gain an advantage over them, usually by saying something clever or making a better argument.
score a point over / score points off phrase V and N inflect, PHR n
The Prime Minister was trying to score a political point over his rivals..., The politicians might be forced to touch on the real issues rather than scoring points off each other.
15 If you settle a score or settle an old scorewith someone, you take revenge on them for something they have done in the past.
settle a score phrase V and N inflect The groups had historic scores to settle with each other.
no-score draw (no-score draws plural )A no-score draw is the result of a football match in which neither team scores any goals. n-count
score draw (score draws plural )A score draw is the result of a football match in which both teams score at least one goal, and they score the same number of goals.
(BRIT) n-count
