scratch
/skɹæt͡ʃ/ verb, noun, adjective, proper noun
Forms scratches scratching scratched
- verb To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc. “Could you please scratch my back?”
- verb To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching. “I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.”
- verb To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing.
- verb To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun). “A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.”
- verb (of a surface) To get such scratches. “This platter scratches easily.”
- verb To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
- verb Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete. “Scratch what I said earlier; I was wrong.”
- verb (music) To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).
- noun A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching. “I can’t believe there is a scratch in the paint already.”
- noun An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation. “The dog sat up and had a good scratch.”
- noun A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.
- noun A technical error of touching or surpassing the starting mark prior to the official start signal in the sporting events of long jump, discus, hammer throw, shot put, and similar. Originally the starting mark was a scratch on the ground but is now a board or precisely indicated mark.
- noun (cycling) The last riders to depart in a handicap race.
- noun A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
- noun (archaic, US, slang) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.
- noun (horse racing) A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start. “There were two scratches in race 8, which reduced the field from nine horses to seven.”
- adjective For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work. “This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.”
- adjective Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation
- adjective (computing) Relating to a scratchpad, a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.
- adjective (sports) (of a player) Of a standard high enough to play without a handicap, i.e. to compete without the benefit of a variation in scoring based on ability.
Synonyms
scrabble chicken scratch fungi quelbe scrawl abrasion scrape excoriation incision prick slit dent boodle bread cabbage clams dinero dough gelt kale lettuce lolly lucre loot moolah pelf shekels simoleons sugar wampum
Etymology
From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Potentially a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch.
Compare Old English scrama, Old Norse skråma, German Schramme (“scratch”), which may be related.
From scratch.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or ragged; to scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across, as the claws, the nails, a pin, or the like.
- verb To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. Scratch out a pamphlet." Swift.
- verb To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches.
- verb To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game. [Cant, U.S.]
Etymology [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE. scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazz, G. kratzen, OD. kratsen, kretsen, D. krassen, Sw. kratsa to scrape, kratta to rake, to scratch, Dan. kradse to scratch, to scrape, Icel. krota to engrave. Cf. Grate to rub.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “scratch”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details