scrape

[ skreyp ]

verb (used with object)

, scraped, scrap·ing.

1. to deprive of or free from an outer layer, adhering matter, etc., or to smooth by drawing or rubbing something, especially a sharp or rough instrument, over the surface:

   to scrape a table to remove paint and varnish.

2. to remove (an outer layer, adhering matter, etc.) in this way:

   to scrape the paint and varnish from a table.

3. to scratch, injure, or mar the surface of in this way:

   to scrape one's arm on a rough wall.

4. to produce by scraping:

   He scraped his initials on the rock.

5. to collect or do by or as if by scraping; do or gather laboriously or with difficulty (usually followed by up or together ):

   They managed to scrape together a football team.

6. to rub harshly on or across (something):

   Don't scrape the floor with your boots!

7. to draw or rub (a thing) roughly across something:

   Scrape your shoes on the doormat before you come in.

8. to level (an unpaved road) with a grader.
9. Digital Technology. to extract (data) from a digital source for automated replication, formatting, or manipulation by a computer program, as in data mining or website data analysis:

   This project scrapes comments on online forums for linguistic research.

   We can scrape older data from obsolete systems with a very simple interface.

verb (used without object)

, scraped, scrap·ing.

1. to scrape something.
2. to rub against something gratingly.
3. to produce a grating and unmusical tone from a string instrument.
4. to draw one's foot back noisily along the ground in making a bow.
5. to manage or get by with difficulty or with only the barest margin:

   I barely scraped through on the test.

6. to economize or save by attention to even the slightest amounts:

   By careful scraping they managed to survive.

   Synonyms: pinch, stint, scrimp

noun

1. an act or instance of scraping.
2. a drawing back of the foot noisily along the ground in making a bow.
3. a harsh, shrill, or scratching sound made by scraping.
4. a scraped place:

   a scrape on one's elbow.

5. an embarrassing or distressing situation; predicament:

   He is always in some kind of a scrape.

6. a difference of opinion, fight, or quarrel; scrap.
7. Digital Technology.
   1. the process of extracting data from a digital source for automated replication, formatting, or manipulation by a computer program, as in data mining or website data analysis:

      How long will the scrape take to complete?

   2. the product of this process:

      The scrape maliciously copied private content to manipulate search engine rankings.

scrape

/ skreɪp /

verb

1. to move (a rough or sharp object) across (a surface), esp to smooth or clean
2. tr; often foll by away or off to remove (a layer) by rubbing
3. to produce a harsh or grating sound by rubbing against (an instrument, surface, etc)
4. tr to injure or damage by rough contact

   to scrape one's knee

5. intr to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and scrape )
6. intr to draw the foot backwards in making a bow
7. tr to finish (a surface) by use of a scraper
8. tr to make (a bearing, etc) fit by scraping
9. bow and scrape
   to behave with excessive humility

noun

1. the act of scraping
2. a scraped place
3. a harsh or grating sound
4. informal.
   an awkward or embarrassing predicament
5. informal.
   a conflict or struggle

Derived Forms

• ˈscrapable, adjective
• ˈscraper, noun

Other Words From

• scrapa·ble adjective
• scrapeage noun
• un·scraped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrape¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb scrapen, from Old Norse skrapa (replacing Middle English shrapen Old English scrapian “to scratch”); cognate with Old Norse skrapa; noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrape¹

Old English scrapian; related to Old Norse skrapa, Middle Dutch schrapen, Middle High German schraffen

Idioms and Phrases

see (scrape the) bottom of the barrel ; bow and scrape ; scare (scrape) up .

Example Sentences

Too many Americans are barely scraping by to afford rent, and far too few can afford to buy a home, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Month by month, the savings that Rosaline George scraped together in her years as a journalist and local government employee have been dwindling as the 97-year-old pays out of pocket for hourly care.

From Los Angeles Times

In her hand, they have almost unanimously perceived a strigil, an ancient bathing tool for scraping filth from the body.

From Salon

Despite aggressive debridement — daily surgical scrapings of her wounds to clean out the infection — and expensive medications, the tissues in her leg grayed at the edges.

From New York Times

In 1970, she worked at a temp agency in the city, hoping to scrape together enough money to support her theater career.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clean
• grind
• rub
• shave