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To cut (anything) in such a way as to fit closely to a somewhat irregular surface, as a baseboard to a floor which is out of level, a board to the curves of a molding, or the like; -- so called because the workman marks, or scribe, with the compasses the line that he afterwards cuts.

To examine closely; to inspect or observe with critical attention; to regard narrowly; as, to scrutinize the measures of administration; to scrutinize the conduct or motives of individuals. Whose votes they were obliged to scrutinize. Ayliffe. Thscrutinized his face the closest. G. W. Cable.

Closely examining, or inquiring; careful; sctrict. -- Scru"ti*nous*ly, adv.

ely jocular; as, scurrilous language. The absurd and scurrilous sermon which had very unwisely been honored with impeachment. Macaulay.

Precisely the same; the very same; identical. His servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Matt. viii. 13.

fibers which convey to a nerve center impulses resulting in sensation; also sometimes loosely employed in the sense of afferent, to indicate nerve fibers which convey impressions of any kind to a nerve center.

A harem; a place for keeping wives or concubines; sometimes, loosely, a place of licentious pleasure; a house of debauchery.

A European finch (Serinus hortulanus) closely related to the canary.

e Muscle plasma, under Plasma. -- Serum albumin (Physiol. Chem.), an albuminous body, closely related to egg albumin, present in nearly all serous fluids; esp., the albumin of blood serum. -- Serum globulin (Physiol. Chem.), paraglobulin. -- Serum of milk (Physiol. Chem.), the whey, or fluid portion of milk, remaini…

An iron pin, or bolt, for fitting planks closely together. Craig.

To attend as closely as a shadow; to follow and watch closely, especially in a secret or unobserved manner; as, a detective shadows a criminal.

A thin, loosely woven, twilled worsted stuff. In blue shalloon shall Hannibal be clad. Swift.

A jocosely depreciative name for a vehicle. [Ireland]

Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp. [Colloq.] Look sharp, attend; be alert. [Colloq.]

A person who bargains closely, especially, one who cheats in bargains; a swinder; also, a cheating gamester. Sharpers, as pikes, prey upon their own kind. L'Estrange.

pare off from the surface of a body with a razor or other edged instrument; to cut off closely, as with a razor; as, to shave the beard.

A jocosely depreciative name for a dwelling or shop. [Slang,U.S.]

s, or star showers. These bodies, before encountering the earth, were moving in orbits closely allied to the orbits of comets. See Leonids, Perseids. (b) (Bot.) The American cowslip (Dodecatheon Meadia). See under Cowslip. -- Shooting stick (Print.), a tapering piece of wood or iron, used by printers to drive up the q…

Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.

me the mere appearance of, without the reality; to assume the signs or indications of, falsely; to counterfeit; to feign. The Puritans, even in the depths of the dungeons to which she had sent them, prayed, and with no simulated fervor, that she might be kept from the dagger of the assassin. Macaulay.…