adjective
scalped
adjective
1
Having had the scalp (the skin and hair on top of the head) cut or torn off.
"The old western movie showed a scalped settler as a grim warning to the others."
"Archaeologists found a scalped skull that hinted at a violent battle centuries earlier."
2
Having had part of a surface, especially grass or turf, cut too short or stripped away.
"The scalped lawn looked patchy after he set the mower blade far too low."
"A scalped putting green can turn brown if the groundskeeper cuts it that close in the heat."
How to Use Scalped
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something that has had its top layer — hair and skin on a head, or grass on a surface — cut off or ripped away, usually leaving it looking bare or damaged.
Common mistake
Do not confuse this adjective with the verb "to scalp" meaning to resell tickets at an inflated price — "scalped tickets" means overpriced resold tickets, a completely different sense of the word.
Common pairings
scalped lawn
scalped victim
scalped turf
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The old western movie showed a _____ settler as a grim warning to the others.