scuffle

UK: /ˈskʌf^əl/ US: /ˈskʌfəl/ ,(skuf′əl)

Inflections of 'scuffle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

scuffles

v 3rd person singular

scuffling

v pres p

scuffled

v past

scuffled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scuf•fle /ˈskʌfəl/   v., -fled, -fling, n. 
v. [no object]

1. to struggle in a rough, disorderly manner:
   scuffling with the mugger.

n. [countable]

2. a rough, confused fight.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scuf•fle  (skuf′əl), v., -fled, -fling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to struggle or fight in a rough, confused manner.
2. to go or move in hurried confusion.
3. to move or go with a shuffle;
   scuff.

n. 

4. a rough, confused struggle or fight.
5. a shuffling:
   a scuffle of feet.
6. Agriculture Also called scuf′fle hoe′. a spadelike hoe that is pushed instead of pulled.
7. (in tap dancing) a forward and backward movement of the foot.

• see scuff, -le 1570–80

scuf′fler, n. 
scuf′fling•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 4. scrap, tussle, row.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scuffle / ˈskʌf^əl/ verb (intransitive)

1. to fight in a disorderly manner
2. to move by shuffling

noun

1. a disorderly struggle
2. the sound made by scuffling or shuffling

Etymology: 16th Century: from Scandinavian; compare Swedish skuff, skuffa to push