scratch

[ skrach ]

/ skrætʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scratch ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough: to scratch one's hand on a nail.

to dig, scrape, or tear (something) out or off with or as if with the nails, claws, etc.: to scratch the burs off one's coat.

to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching.

to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface: to scratch a match on the sidewalk.

to erase, cancel, strike out, or eliminate (a name, something written, etc.) by or as if by drawing a line through it (often followed by out): Scratch out the third name on the list.

to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.

U.S. Politics.

to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.
to strike out or reject a particular name or names on (a party ticket) in voting.

to write or draw by scraping or cutting the lines into a surface: She scratched her initials on the glass.

to manipulate (a phonograph record) back and forth under the stylus to produce rhythmic sounds.

verb (used without object)

to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.

to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.

to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.

to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty: We scratched along that year on very little money.

to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.

(in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.

Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, especially to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.

noun

a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching: three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.

a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.

an act of scratching.

the slight grating sound caused by scratching.

the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.

Billiards, Pool.

a shot resulting in a penalty, especially a pocketing of the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
a fluke or lucky shot.

(in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.

Baseball. scratch hit.

scratch wig.

Slang. money; cash.

adjective

used for hasty writing, notes, etc.: scratch paper.

without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.

Informal. done by or dependent on chance: a scratch shot.

Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately: a scratch crew.

done or made from scratch: a scratch cake.

Idioms for scratch

from scratch,

from the very beginning or starting point.
from nothing; without resources: After the depression he started another business from scratch.

up to scratch, in conformity with a certain standard; adequate; satisfactory: The local symphony orchestra has improved this year, but it is still not up to scratch.

Origin of scratch

1425–75; late Middle English scracche (v.), blend of Middle English scratte to scratch, and cracche to scratch; cognate with Middle Dutch cratsen

OTHER WORDS FROM scratch

scratch·a·ble, adjective scratch·a·bly, adverb scratch·er, noun scratch·less, adjective

scratch·like, adjective un·scratch·a·ble, adjective un·scratched, adjective un·scratch·ing, adjective

Words nearby scratch

scrapie, scraping, scrapper, scrapple, scrappy, scratch, scratch awl, scratch card, scratch coat, scratch file, scratch hardness

Example sentences from the Web for scratching

Over 2,000 years ago, Aristotle was scratching his head about them.

The Science of Weepies: Why We Love Crying at the Movies |Elizabeth Picciuto |June 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
There are many cultural phenomena that leave me scratching my head.

Doc Says No to Soylent |Russell Saunders |May 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The sheer scale of what they are examining is daunting—and they are only scratching the surface.

Ukraine Revolutionaries Bitter about Crimea Loss and Kiev Incompetence |Jamie Dettmer |March 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It all boils down to scratching your name in the bark of a tree.

Mel Brooks Is Always Funny and Often Wise in This 1975 Playboy Interview |Alex Belth |February 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The scenery is beautiful, including green rolling hills and massive waterfalls and the ending will leave you scratching your head.

Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO) |Victoria Kezra |August 25, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Vesicles may be produced on other parts of the body as a result of scratching.

The Eugenic Marriage, Vol 2 (of 4) |W. Grant Hague
He rubbed his mitten over his woollen cap as if scratching his head.

Beasley's Christmas Party |Booth Tarkington
At about noon we found some water in a gully by scratching a hole, but it was quite salt.

Explorations in Australia |John Forrest
The sound of his own voice was like the scratching of a pin after the enormous rhythm that now ceased.

The Bright Messenger |Algernon Blackwood
The little lobby milled and buzzed, drowning the scratching of the pen as a trembling man signed the confession, page by page.

The White Desert |Courtney Ryley Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for scratching (1 of 2)

scratching

/ (ˈskrætʃɪŋ) /

noun

a percussive effect obtained by rotating a gramophone record manually: a disc-jockey and dub technique

British Dictionary definitions for scratching (2 of 2)

scratch

/ (skrætʃ) /

verb

to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument

(often foll by at, out, off, etc) to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc

to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching

to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)

to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape

(tr sometimes foll by out) to erase by or as if by scraping

(tr) to write or draw awkwardly

(intr sometimes foll by along) to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty

to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc

(intr) billiards snooker

to make a shot resulting in a penalty
to make a lucky shot

(tr) US to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election

(intr often foll by for) Australian informal to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living

to treat (a subject) superficially

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours if you will help me, I will help you

noun

the act of scratching

a slight injury

a mark made by scratching

a slight grating sound

(in a handicap sport)

a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty
(as modifier)a scratch player

the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor

the line from which competitors start in a race
(formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting

a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc

billiards snooker

a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket
a lucky shot

poultry food

from scratch informal from the very beginning

up to scratch (usually used with a negative) informal up to standard

adjective

sport (of a team) assembled hastily

(in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty

informal rough or haphazard

Derived forms of scratch

scratchy, adjective scratchily, adverb scratchiness, noun

Word Origin for scratch

C15: via Old French escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German krazzōn (German kratzen); related to Old French gratter to grate 1

Idioms and Phrases with scratching

scratch

In addition to the idioms beginning with scratch

scratch one's head
scratch someone's back
scratch the surface

also see:

from scratch
up to par (scratch)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

scratch

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

adjective

Idioms for scratch

Origin of scratch

OTHER WORDS FROM scratch

Words nearby scratch

Example sentences from the Web for scratching

British Dictionary definitions for scratching (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for scratching (2 of 2)

verb

noun

adjective

Derived forms of scratch

Word Origin for scratch

Idioms and Phrases with scratching

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

scratch

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

adjective

Idioms for scratch

Origin of scratch

OTHER WORDS FROM scratch

Words nearby scratch

Words related to scratching

Example sentences from the Web for scratching

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for scratching (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for scratching (2 of 2)

verb

noun

adjective

Derived forms of scratch

Word Origin for scratch

Idioms and Phrases with scratching

British Dictionary definitions for scratching (1 of 2)