Pronunciations (2)
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/skɹæt͡ʃ/
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skɹætʃ
Verb
To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Could you please scratch my back?
More examples (1)
Then riſing with Aurora’s Light, / The Muse invok’d, ſit down to write; / Blot out, correct, inſert, refine, / Enlarge, diminiſh, interline; / Be mindful, when Invention fails, / To ſcratch your Head, and bite your Nails.
To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
- Examples
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I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.
More examples (1)
Sometimes I lost track of them and had to hunt round in a circle, thrusting through sharp-scented bushes, scratching myself [translating m’écorchant] on various plants which were still new to me: resinaceous rock-roses, juniper, ilex, yellow and white asphodel.
To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching. To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing.
To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
- Examples
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A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.
To get such scratches.
Usage- of a surface
- Examples
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This platter scratches easily.
To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page. Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete.
- Examples
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Scratch what I said earlier; I was wrong.
When the favorite was scratched from the race, there was a riot at the betting windows.
To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).
To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
- Examples
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Embarrassingly, he scratched on the break, popping the cue completely off the table.
To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
Usage- US usage
- Dated
To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.
- Examples
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If any of the Labourers can ſcratch out a Pamphlet, they deſire no more; There is no Queſtion offered about the Wit, the Style, the Argument.
To dig or excavate with the claws.
Usage- Transitive or intransitive
- Examples
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Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.
To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.
- Examples
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The cat scratched the little girl.
To announce one's non-participation in a race or sports event part of a larger sports meeting that one was previously signed up for, usually in lieu of another event at the same meeting.
- Examples
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More examples (2)
Kerley, 26, is the 2019 World bronze medalist at 400 meters, a distance he is known for and with which he also won the 2017 and 2019 U.S. titles, but surprised the track world by announcing one week ago that he scratched the 400m and would focus on the 100m and 200m in Eugene, Oregon, despite not having raced the 100m between 2015 and 2020.
Hurtis-Houairi, in lane three, quickly caught Arron, who was in lane four, winning in 22.80. Arron, who scratched the 100m semis in order to focus on the longer sprint, could only run 23.44.
Noun
A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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I can’t believe there is a scratch in the paint already.
Her skin was covered with tiny scratches.
More examples (5)
God forbid a shallow scratch should drive / The prince of Wales from such a field as this.
The coarse file[…]makes deep scratches in the work.
These nails with scratches deform my breast.
Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
A very neat old woman, still in her good outdoor coat and best beehive hat, was sitting at a polished mahogany table on whose surface there were several scored scratches so deep that a triangular piece of the veneer had come cleanly away,[…].
An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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The dog sat up and had a good scratch.
A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He started a few seconds before the time and came up in speed to the scratch at the moment appointed.
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.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The last riders to depart in a handicap race.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Eventually the elephant and camel were despatched by themselves with two laps start of the bicyclist and horse, the motor car being scratch.
An aberration. A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
An aberration. A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.
Usage- US usage
- Archaic
- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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There were two scratches in race 8, which reduced the field from nine horses to seven.
A minor injury.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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It's just a scratch!
Money; especially, cash.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He and Bruce cooked up a script together, and Bruce flew home to raise the scratch.
A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
Minute, but tender and troublesome, excoriations, covered with scabs, upon the heels of horses which have been used where it is very wet or muddy.
Usage- Countable
- in-plural
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
These are exemplified in the scurfy, scaly affections which appear in the bend of the knee (mallenders) and hock (sallenders) and on the lower parts of the limbs, by scratches, and by a scaly exfoliation[…].
A scratch wig.
Usage- Countable
- Historical
- Uncountable
- Examples
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[H]e turned to him with a dejected Face, and said ‘ – pray Sir, – could you touch up This a little?’ taking hold of his frightful scratch.
A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Poor handwriting; especially, illegibly so.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The handwriting in his paper is completely different when compared to his scratch on the note you gave me
Nothing, zero. Used especially in card games or sports, but also expressions like "from scratch".
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Adjective
For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.
Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
A scratch company of two innocuous youths and a pacified veteran was therefore what now offered itself to Mrs. Stringham, who rustled in a little breathless and full of the compunction of having had to come alone.
Bluecoats began crossing the James on June 14 and next day two corps approached Petersburg, which was held by Beauregard with a scratch force of 2,500.
Relating to a scratchpad, a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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scratch memory
(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.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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... the shot that does most to make a genuine scratch golfer is the mashie shot up to the pin — not merely up to the green.
Noun
an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off
- Synonyms
a depression scratched or carved into a surface
- Broader terms
informal terms for money
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a competitor who has withdrawn from competition
- Broader terms
a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
dry mash for poultry
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a harsh noise made by scraping
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the scrape of violin bows distracted her
poor handwriting
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
(golf) a handicap of zero strokes
- Broader terms
- Examples
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a golfer who plays at scratch should be able to achieve par on a course
an indication of damage
Verb
cause friction
- Examples
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my sweater scratches
cut the surface of; wear away the surface of
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
scrape or rub as if to relieve itching
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Don't scratch your insect bites!
postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled
- Examples
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Call off the engagement
cancel the dinner party
More examples (2)
we had to scrub our vacation plans
scratch that meeting — the chair is ill
remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
- Examples
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Please strike this remark from the record
scratch that remark
gather (money or other resources) together over time
- Examples
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She had scraped together enough money for college
they scratched a meager living
carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface
- Examples
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engrave a pen
engraved the trophy cup with the winner's name
More examples (1)
the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree