1 a mark that is left on the skin after a wound has healed:
a scar on his cheek * Will the operation leave a scar? * scar tissue
2 a permanent feeling of great sadness or mental pain that a person is left with after an unpleasant experience:
His years in prison have left deep scars. * My husband died four years ago and the scar hasn't healed yet.
3 something unpleasant or ugly that spoils the appearance or public image of sth:
The town still bears the scars of war. * Racism has been a scar on the game.
4 an area of a hill or cliff where there is bare rock and no grass:
a mile-long limestone scar
verb [VN] [oftenpassive]
1 (of a wound, etc.) to leave a mark on the skin after it has healed:
His face was badly scarred.
2 (of an unpleasant experience) to leave sb with a feeling of sadness or mental pain:
The experience left her scarred for life.
3 to spoil the appearance of sth:
The hills are scarred by quarries. * battle-scarred buildings
