scramble

verb (used without object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

1. to climb or move quickly using one’s hands and feet, as down a rough incline.
2. to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain: The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.
3. to move hastily and with urgency: She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.
4. Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.

verb (used with object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

5. to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often followed by together or up): He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.
6. to mix together confusedly: The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.
7. to cause to move hastily, as if in panic: He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.
8. to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.
9. to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.
10. to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.
11. Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.

noun

12. a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.
13. a struggle for possession or gain: a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.
14. any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.
15. Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.

verb

1. (intr) to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement
2. (intr) to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion
3. (intr often foll by for) to compete with others, esp in a disordered mannerto scramble for a prize
4. (intr foll by through) to deal with hurriedly and unsystematically
5. (tr) to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble
6. (tr) to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner
7. (tr) to cook (eggs that have been whisked up with milk and seasoning) in a pan containing a little melted butter
8. military to order (a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately or (of a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately
9. (tr) to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler

noun

10. the act of scrambling
11. a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc
12. a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession
13. military an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc
14. British a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground

v.1580s (intransitive), perhaps a nasalized variant of scrabble (v.), in its sense of “to struggle, to scrape quickly.” Transitive sense “to stir or toss together randomly” is from 1822. Broadcasting sense “to make unintelligible” is attested from 1927. Related: Scrambled; scrambling. Scrambled eggs first recorded 1843. n.1670s, “an eager, rude contest or struggle,” from scramble (v.). Meaning “a walk or ramble involving clambering and struggling with obstacles” is from 1755. Meaning “rapid take-off” first recorded 1940, R.A.F. slang.