First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1scratch
verb \ˈskrach\
: to rub your skin with something sharp (such as your fingernails) especially in order to stop an itch
: to make a shallow and narrow cut in (your skin) with something sharp (such as fingernails, claws, etc.)
: to rub a surface or object with something sharp or rough in a way that produces a harsh sound
Full Definition of SCRATCH
transitive verb
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
: to write or draw on a surface
6
a : to cancel or erase by or as if by drawing a line through b : to withdraw (an entry) from competition
8
: to scrape along a rough surface <scratch a match>
intransitive verb
1
: to use the claws or nails in digging, tearing, or wounding
2
: to scrape or rub oneself lightly (as to relieve itching)
3
: to gather money or make a living by hard work and especially through irregular means and sacrifice <had to scratch and save for college>
4
a : to make a thin grating sound b : to produce a rhythmic scratching sound by moving a phonograph record back and forth under a phonograph needle
5
: to withdraw from a contest or engagement
6
: to make a scratch in billiards or pool
— scratch·er noun
— scratch one's back
: to accommodate with a favor especially in expectation of like return
— scratch one's head
: to be or become confused or perplexed
— scratch the surface
: to make a modest effort or start
See scratch defined for English-language learners
See scratch defined for kids
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Origin of SCRATCH
Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten to scratch and cracchen to scratch
2scratch
noun
: a line or mark in the surface of something that is caused by something rough or sharp rubbing against it
: a shallow and narrow cut in the skin that is caused by something sharp
: the sound made when something sharp rubs against a surface or object
Full Definition of SCRATCH
1
: a mark or injury produced by scratching; also : a slight wound
3
: the sound made by scratching
4
: the starting line in a race
5
a : a test of courage b : satisfactory condition, level, or performance <not up to scratch>
6
: a contestant whose name is withdrawn
7
: poultry feed (as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground especially to induce birds to exercise —called also scratch feed
8
a : a shot in billiards or pool that ends a player's turn; specifically : a shot in pool in which the cue ball falls into the pocket b : a shot that scores by chance : fluke
9
— from scratch
1
: from a point at which nothing has been done ahead of time <build a school system from scratch>
2
: without using a prepared mixture of ingredients <bake a cake from scratch>
See scratch defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SCRATCH
circa 1586
3scratch
adjective
of a golfer : having no handicap
: put together quickly and without enough planning or thought
Full Definition of SCRATCH
1
: arranged or put together with little selection : haphazard <a scratch team>
2
: made as or used for a tentative effort
3
: made or done by chance and not as intended <a scratch shot>
4
: having no handicap or allowance <a scratch golfer>
5
: made from scratch : made with basic ingredients <a scratch cake>
See scratch defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SCRATCH
1851
SCRATCHING Defined for Kids
1scratch
verb \ˈskrach\
scratchedscratch·ing
Definition of SCRATCH for Kids
1
: to scrape or rub lightly <scratch an itch> <He scratched his head.>
2
: to injure by scraping with something sharp <He scratched his thumb on a nail.>
3
: to make a scraping noise <The dog was scratching at the door.>
4
: to erase by scraping <I scratched out my mistake.>
2scratch
noun
Definition of SCRATCH for Kids
: a mark or injury made by scraping with something sharp
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Next Word in the Dictionary: scratchablePrevious Word in the Dictionary: scrat All Words Near: scratch
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