make one's way quickly or awkwardly up a steep gradient or over rough ground by using one's hands as well as one's feet

we scrambled over the damp boulders

order (a fighter aircraft or its pilot) to take off immediately in an emergency or for action

the Hurricanes were scrambled again, this time meeting Italian fighters

make (something) jumbled or muddled

maybe the alcohol has scrambled his brains

(of a quarterback) run with the ball behind the line of scrimmage, avoiding tackles

McNabb scrambled in the third quarter and threw a touchdown pass to Maddox

a difficult or hurried clamber up or over something

an undignified scramble over the wall

an emergency take-off by fighter aircraft

the scramble might be a training exercise or it might not

a disordered mixture of things

the girl's mouth was a scramble of orthodontist's hardware