scratch

Scratch is defined as to lightly scrape or dig at with nails or claws or slightly cut or mark a surface with something sharp.

(verb)

  1. An example of to scratch is someone relieving an itch with their nails.
  2. An example of to scratch is a cat attacking someone with its claws.
  3. An example of to scratch is someone carving their name in a tree trunk.

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See scratch in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to mark, break, or cut the surface of slightly with something pointed or sharp
  2. to tear or dig with the nails or claws
    1. to rub or scrape lightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching, etc.
    2. to chafe
  3. to rub or scrape with a grating noise: to scratch a match on a wall
  4. to write or draw hurriedly or carelessly
  5. to strike out or cancel (writing, etc.)
  6. to gather or collect with difficulty; scrape (together or up)
  7. Sports to withdraw (an entry) from a contest, specif. from a horse race

Origin: LME scracchen, prob. altered < scratten, to scratch, based on cracchen < or akin to MDu cratsen, to scratch < IE base *gred- > Alb gërüj, (I) scratch

intransitive verb

  1. to use nails or claws in digging or wounding
  2. to rub or scrape the skin lightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching, etc.
  3. to manage to get by; scrape by
  4. to make a harsh, scraping noise
  5. to withdraw from a race or contest
  6. in certain card games, to score no points
  7. Billiards, Pool to commit a scratch

noun

  1. the act of scratching
  2. a mark or tear made in a surface by something sharp or rough
  3. a wound, usually superficial, inflicted by nails, claws, or something pointed pulled across the skin, etc.
  4. a slight grating or scraping sound
  5. a hasty mark, as of a pen; scribble
  6. the starting line of a race
  7. in certain card games, a score of zero
  8. Slang money
  9. Billiards, Pool
    1. a shot that results in a penalty
    2. a miss
  10. Sports
    1. the starting point or time of a contestant who receives no handicap
    2. such a contestant
    3. an entry withdrawn from a contest

adjective

  1. ☆ used for hasty notes, preliminary or tentative figuring, etc.: scratch paper
  2. skillful enough to require no handicap or special allowance in a contest: a scratch golfer
  3. put together in haste and without much selection: a scratch team
  4. Baseball designating a chance hit credited to a batter for a ball not hit sharply, but on which the batter reaches base safely

Related Forms:

noun

the Devil
usually Old Scratch

Origin: altered (infl. by scratch) < ME skratte < ON skratti, monster, sorcerer, akin to OHG scraz, goblin < IE base *(s)ker-, to shrink > scrannel

See scratch in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb scratched, scratch·ing, scratch·es
verb, transitive
  1. To make a thin shallow cut or mark on (a surface) with a sharp instrument.
  2. To use the nails or claws to dig or scrape at.
  3. To rub or scrape (the skin) to relieve itching.
  4. To scrape or strike on an abrasive surface.
  5. To write or draw (something) by scraping a surface: scratched their initials on a rock.
  6. To write or draw hurriedly: scratched off a thank-you note.
  7. a. To strike out or cancel (a word, for example) by or as if by drawing lines through.
    b. Slang To cancel (a project or program, for example).
  8. To withdraw (an entry) from a contest.
verb, intransitive
  1. To use the nails or claws to dig, scrape, or wound.
  2. To rub or scrape the skin to relieve itching.
  3. To make a harsh scraping sound.
  4. To gather funds or produce a living with difficulty.
  5. a. To withdraw from a contest.
    b. Games To make a shot in billiards that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball falls into a pocket or jumps the cushion.
noun
  1. a. A mark resembling a line that is produced by scratching.
    b. A slight wound.
  2. A hasty scribble.
  3. A sound made by scratching.
  4. a. Sports The starting line for a race.
    b. A contestant who has been withdrawn from a competition.
  5. Games
    a. The act of scratching in billiards.
    b. A fluke or chance shot in billiards.
  6. Poultry feed.
  7. Slang Money.
adjective
  1. Done haphazardly or by chance.
  2. Assembled hastily or at random.
  3. Sports Having no golf handicap.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English scracchen

Origin: , probably blend of scratten, to scratch

Origin: , and cracchen, to scratch (possibly from Middle Dutch cratsen)

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Related Forms:

  • scratchˈer noun

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