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   Scratch

   /skraCH/

   

   verb

   • 1. score or mark the surface of (something) with a sharp or pointed object: "the car's paintwork was battered and scratched" Similar scoreabradescraperoughenscuff (up)lacerategroovegashengraveincisegouge
   • ▪ make a long, narrow superficial wound in the skin of: "her arms were scratched by the thorns" Similar grazescrapeabraderaspskinrub rawcutlaceratebarkchafestripflaywoundtechnical:excoriate
   • ▪ rub (a part of one's body) with one's fingernails to relieve itching: "Jessica lifted her sunglasses and scratched her nose" Similar rubclaw (at)scrapetear at
   • ▪ make (a mark or hole) by scoring a surface with a sharp or pointed object: "I found two names scratched on one of the windowpanes"
   • ▪ write (something) hurriedly or awkwardly: "pass me my writing things—I'll scratch a few letters before I get up"
   • ▪ remove (something) from something else by pulling a sharp implement over it: "he scratched away the plaster"
   • ▪ make a rasping or grating noise by scraping something over a hard surface: "the dog scratched to be let in"
   • ▪ (of a bird or mammal, especially a chicken) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food: "the hens cannot do anything that comes naturally to them, such as scratch around"
   • ▪ accomplish (something) with great effort or difficulty: "he scratches out a living growing strawberries"
   • 2. cancel or strike out (writing) with a pen or pencil: "the name of Dr. McNab was scratched out and that of Dr. Daniels substituted" Similar cross outstrike outscore outdeleteeraseremovestrike offeliminatecancelexpungeobliterate
   • ▪ withdraw (a competitor) from a competition: "Oswald's Zephyr was the second horse to be scratched from a race today" Similar withdrawpull out (of)back out (of)bow out (of)stand downgive upleavequit
   • ▪ (of a competitor) withdraw from a competition: "due to a knee injury she was forced to scratch from the race"
   • ▪ cancel or abandon (an undertaking or project): "the original filming schedule has been scratched"
   • 3. play a record using the scratch technique. "he raps and scratches simultaneously to dazzling effect"

   noun

   • 1. a mark or wound made by scratching: "the scratches on her arm were throbbing" Similar scoremarklineabrasionscrapescufflacerationgroovegashgouge
   • ▪ a slight or insignificant wound or injury: informal "it's nothing—just a scratch" Similar grazescrapeabrasioncutlacerationwound
   • ▪ an act or spell of scratching oneself to relieve itching: "he gave his scalp a good scratch"
   • ▪ a rasping or grating noise produced by something rubbing against a hard surface: "the scratch of a match lighting a cigarette"
   • ▪ a rough hiss, caused by the friction of the stylus in the groove, heard when a record is played.
   • 2. a technique, used especially in rap music, of stopping a record by hand and moving it back and forth to give a rhythmic scratching effect: "a scratch mix"
   • 3. the starting point in a handicap for a competitor receiving no odds: "a 631-meters handicap, when the excellent stayer, Too Fast, will be off scratch"
   • ▪ a handicap of zero, indicating that a player is good enough to achieve par on a course: "he plays off scratch in University golf"
   • 4. money: informal "he was working to get some scratch together"

   adjective

   • 1. assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality: "at least two vessels set sail with scratch crews"
   • 2. (of a sports competitor or event) with no handicap given: "he was a scratch player at many courses"

   Word Origin late Middle English: probably a blend of the synonymous dialect words scrat and cratch, both of uncertain origin; compare with Middle Low German kratsen and Old High German krazzōn.

   Derivatives

   • 1. scratcher noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • C

     3

   • H

     4

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › scratchScratch Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › scratch

   • Cached

   1. : to scrape or dig with the claws or nails. 2. : to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged. 3. a. : to scrape or rub lightly (as to relieve itching) b. : to act on (a desire) used with itch. scratch the itch to travel. 4. : to scrape together : collect with difficulty or by effort. scratch out a living. 5.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › scratchSCRATCH Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › scratch

   • Cached

   Scratch definition: to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough. See examples of SCRATCH used in a sentence.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSCRATCH | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SCRATCH definition: 1. to cut or damage a surface or your skin slightly with or on something sharp or rough: 2. If you…. Learn more.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySCRATCH | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   SCRATCH meaning: 1. to cut or damage a surface or your skin slightly with or on something sharp or rough: 2. If you…. Learn more.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › scratchScratch - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › scratch

   A scratch is marking or marring a surface with something sharp, such as a nail against metal or fingernails across skin. If someone has scratch marks on their skin, you might wonder if they have been in a fight where there was scratching.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › scratchScratch - definition of scratch by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › scratch

   • Cached

   vb. 1. to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument. 2. (often foll by: at, out, off, etc) to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc. 3. to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSCRATCH definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   verb. 1. to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument. 2. (often foll by at, out, off, etc) to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc. 3.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionscratch verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   Definition of scratch verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

10. www.yourdictionary.com › scratchScratch Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › scratch

    • Cached

    Scratch Definition. skrăch. scratched, scratches, scratching. Meanings. Synonyms. Sentences. Definition Source. Word Forms. Origin. Verb. Noun. Adjective. Idiom. Filter. verb. scratched, scratches, scratching. To mark, break, or cut the surface of slightly with something pointed or sharp. Webster's New World. Similar definitions.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySCRATCH | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

    • Cached

    SCRATCH meaning: 1. to rub your skin with your nails, often to stop it itching (= feeling unpleasant): 2. to make a…. Learn more.