Wiktionary:Word of the day/2020/December 20

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scram v

(intransitive, originally US, often imperative) To leave in a hurry; to go away. [...] (chiefly nuclear physics) (transitive) To shut down (a nuclear reactor or, by extension, some other thing) for safety reasons, usually because of an emergency. (intransitive) Of a nuclear reactor or some other thing: to shut down, usually because of an emergency. [...] (transitive, Derbyshire, Wales) To scratch (something) with claws or fingernails; to claw. scram n (chiefly nuclear physics) (also attributively) A shutdown of a nuclear reactor (or, by extension, some other thing), often done rapidly due to an emergency. The device used to shut down a nuclear reactor; also, the button or switch used to initiate a shutdown. [...] (Derbyshire, Wales) A scratch, especially caused by claws or fingernails.

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