scone

scone — noun

1. a small round bread-like cake with a hint of sweetness, prepared from flour, but

1.nounB1
Definition

a small round bread-like cake with a hint of sweetness, prepared from flour, butter or cream, and milk, then split in half and topped with butter, jam, or clotted cream — a classic feature of British afternoon tea.

Example

Felix ordered tea and a warm scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

collocation: scone with jam and cream

The bakery on Mill Road sells the best cheese scones in Cambridge.

collocation: cheese scone (savoury)

Common collocations
  • butter
  • jam
  • clotted cream
  • cheese scone
  • fruit scone
  • afternoon tea
  • warm scone
Synonyms
  • biscuit (US)

    a soft, flaky, savoury American bread roll that is similar in shape but made without sugar and usually eaten with gravy or butter, not jam and cream

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Usage Note

Pronunciation of this sense varies: in most of the UK, scone rhymes with 'on' (/skɒn/), while in parts of northern England and Scotland it may rhyme with 'own' (/skəʊn/). In the US, this sense is uncommon — American speakers typically use 'biscuit' for a similar savoury baked item.

2. a sweet, triangular-shaped cake made with flour, butter, sugar, and often fruit,

2.nounB1
Definition

a sweet, triangular-shaped cake made with flour, butter, sugar, and often fruit, chocolate, nuts, or pumpkin, baked until golden and typically denser and sweeter than a British scone, commonly sold in coffee shops and bakeries across the United States.

Example

Devika bought a blueberry scone and coffee from the cafe on her way to work.

collocation: blueberry scone

The bakery's pumpkin scone with cinnamon glaze sells out before noon every Saturday.

collocation: pumpkin scone with glaze

Common collocations
  • blueberry scone
  • chocolate-chip scone
  • pumpkin scone
  • cinnamon glaze
  • coffee shop
  • barista

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Usage Note

In American English, scone always rhymes with 'own' (/skoʊn/). American scones are typically larger, sweeter, and denser than British scones. They are not usually split and filled with jam and cream; instead, they are eaten as a standalone pastry, sometimes with a drizzle of icing or glaze.

Idioms

Scone

idiom

a small village in eastern Scotland, near the city of Perth, historically famous as the place where Scottish kings were crowned and where the Stone of Scone (a sacred coronation stone) was kept for centuries.

The Stone of Scone was kept at Scone Palace near Perth for more than 500 years.

Jason learned that Scottish kings were traditionally crowned at Scone, a village northeast of Perth.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three are small baked goods, but each is distinct. A British scone is drier and less sweet than a muffin, with a flaky, bread-like texture meant to be split and spread with jam and cream. A US-style biscuit is savoury, soft, and flaky, made with butter or shortening, and typically served with gravy or butter rather than jam. A crumpet is a soft, spongy round cake with holes on top, toasted and served with butter that melts into the holes. For example: Felix ordered a scone with jam and cream, while Esteban had a crumpet with butter, and Gabriel chose a blueberry muffin.

biscuit (US)muffincrumpet

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • bake scones
  • serve scones
  • order a scone
  • split a scone

Prepositions

  • with (scone with jam)
  • for (scone for breakfast)

Etymology

DutchMiddle EnglishScottish EnglishEnglish

The word 'scone' first appeared in Scottish English in the early 1500s. It probably comes from Middle Dutch 'schoonbrood' (fine white bread), from 'schoon' (beautiful, pure) and 'brood' (bread). Another theory links it to the Dutch word 'schoonbroot' or the German 'Schönbrot'. The meaning shifted over time from a type of fine bread to the small round baked cake we know today.