scratch

¹

[ skrach ]

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching.
4. to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface:

   to scratch a match on the sidewalk.

5. 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.

6. to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.
7. U.S. Politics.
   1. to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.
   2. to strike out or reject a particular name or names on (a party ticket) in voting.
8. to write or draw by scraping or cutting the lines into a surface:

   She scratched her initials on the glass.

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

verb (used without object)

1. to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.
2. to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.
3. to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.
4. to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty:

   We scratched along that year on very little money.

5. to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.
6. (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.
7. Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, especially to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.

noun

1. a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching:

   three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.

2. a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.
3. an act of scratching.
4. the slight grating sound caused by scratching.
5. the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.
6. Billiards, Pool.
   1. a shot resulting in a penalty, especially a pocketing of the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
   2. a fluke or lucky shot.
7. (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.
8. Baseball. scratch hit.
9. scratch wig.
10. Slang. money; cash.

adjective

1. used for hasty writing, notes, etc.:

   scratch paper.

2. without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.
3. Informal. done by or dependent on chance:

   a scratch shot.

4. Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately:

   a scratch crew.

5. done or made from scratch:

   a scratch cake.

Scratch

²

[ skrach ]

noun

1. Old Scratch; Satan.

scratch

/ skrætʃ /

verb

1. to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument
2. often foll byat, 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
4. to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)
5. to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape
6. trsometimes foll byout to erase by or as if by scraping
7. tr to write or draw awkwardly
8. intrsometimes foll byalong to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty
9. to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc
10. intr billiards snooker
    1. to make a shot resulting in a penalty
    2. to make a lucky shot
11. tr to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election
12. informal.
    introften foll byfor to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living
13. to treat (a subject) superficially
14. you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
    if you will help me, I will help you

noun

1. the act of scratching
2. a slight injury
3. a mark made by scratching
4. a slight grating sound
5. in a handicap sport
   1. a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty
   2. ( as modifier )

      a scratch player

6. the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor
7. 1. the line from which competitors start in a race
   2. (formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting
8. a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc
9. billiards snooker
   1. a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket
   2. a lucky shot
10. poultry food
11. from scratch informal.
    from the very beginning
12. up to scratch informal.
    usually used with a negative up to standard

adjective

1. sport (of a team) assembled hastily
2. (in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty
3. informal.
   rough or haphazard

Derived Forms

• ˈscratchiness, noun
• ˈscratchy, adjective
• ˈscratchily, adverb

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scratch¹

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

Origin of scratch²

1730–40; alteration of scrat hermaphrodite ( late Middle English scratte; compare Old English scritta (once), which may be an error for *scratta ); cognate with Old Norse skratti devil, goblin, wizard, Old High German skraz wood-demon

Word History and Origins

Origin of scratch¹

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

Idioms

1. from scratch,
   1. from the very beginning or starting point.
   2. from nothing; without resources:

      After the depression he started another business from scratch.

2. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing scratch

• from scratch
• up to par (scratch)

Example Sentences

Tasked for the first time with finding the Korean War dead, she had to start from scratch by first compiling a list of the 300 British soldiers still missing, of which 76 were buried in the cemetery in Busan.

From BBC

"If Donald Trump says 'Jump three feet high and scratch your heads,' we all jump three feet high and scratch our heads," he said.

From Salon

We prepare everything from scratch.

From Salon

But having killed off almost every character, Hwang has had to start from scratch, with a new cast and set of games, and this time audience expectations are sky high.

From BBC

UCLA’s quest to scratch and claw its way to a bowl berth after a slow start to the season continues.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• claw
• etch
• graze
• rub
• scrape
• scrawl
• scribble