scant (sk?nt)adj. scant·er, scant·est 1. Barely sufficient: paid scant attention to the lecture.2. Falling short of a specific measure: a scant cup of sugar.3. Inadequately supplied; short: We were scant of breath after the lengthy climb.tr.v. scant·ed, scant·ing, scants 1. To give an inadequate portion or allowance to: had to scant the older children in order to nourish the newborn.2. To limit, as in amount or share; stint: Our leisure time is scanted by this demanding job.3. To deal with or treat inadequately or neglectfully; slight.[Middle English, from Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr, short.]scant?ly adv.scant?ness n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.scant (skænt) adj1. scarcely sufficient; limited: he paid her scant attention. 2. (prenominal) slightly short of the amount indicated; bare: a scant ten inches. 3. (foll by: of) having a short supply (of)vb (tr) 4. to limit in size or quantity5. to provide with a limited or inadequate supply of6. to treat in a slighting or inadequate manneradvscarcely; barely[C14: from Old Norse skamt, from skammr/short; related to Old High German scam] ?scantly adv ?scantness nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014scant (skænt) adj. scant?er, scant?est, v. adv. adj. 1. barely sufficient in amount or quantity; meager. 2. almost as much as indicated: a scant cupful. 3. having an inadequate or limited supply (usu. fol. by of): scant of breath. v.t. 4. to make scant; diminish. 5. to stint the supply of; withhold. 6. to treat slightly or inadequately. adv. 7. Dial. scarcely; barely; hardly. [1325?75; Middle English (adj.)