Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scratches, present participle scratching, past tense, past participle scratched
1. verb
If you scratchyourself, you rub your fingernails against your skin because it is itching.
He scratched himself under his arm. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
The old man lifted his cardigan to scratch his side. [VERB noun]
I had to wear long sleeves to stop myself scratching. [VERB]
Synonyms: rub, scrape, claw at More Synonyms of scratch
2. verb
If a sharp object scratches someone or something, it makes small shallow cuts on their skin or surface.
The branches tore at my jacket and scratched my hands and face. [VERB noun]
Knives will scratch the worktop. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: mark, cut, score, damage More Synonyms of scratch
3. countable noun
Scratches on someone or something are small shallow cuts.
The seven-year-old was found crying with scratches on his face and neck. [+ on/to]
I pointed to a number of scratches in the tile floor.
Synonyms: mark, scrape, graze, blemish More Synonyms of scratch
4.
See from scratch
5.
See scratch one's head
6.
See scratch the surface
7.
See up to scratch
More Synonyms of scratch
scratch in British English
(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. (transitive; sometimes foll byout)
to erase by or as if by scraping
7. (transitive)
to write or draw awkwardly
8. (intransitive; sometimes foll byalong)
to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty
9.
to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc
10. (intransitive) billiards, snooker
a.
to make a shot resulting in a penalty
b.
to make a lucky shot
11. (transitive) US
to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election
12. (intransitive; often foll byfor) Australian informal
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
noun
15.
the act of scratching
16.
a slight injury
17.
a mark made by scratching
18.
a slight grating sound
19. (in a handicap sport)
a.
a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty
b.
(as modifier)
a scratch player
20.
the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor
21.
a.
the line from which competitors start in a race
b.
(formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting
22.
a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc
23. billiards, snooker
a.
a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket
b.
a lucky shot
24.
poultry food
25. from scratch
26. up to scratch
adjective
27. sport
(of a team) assembled hastily
28.
(in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty
29. informal
rough or haphazard
Derived forms
scratchy (ˈscratchy)
adjective
scratchily (ˈscratchily)
adverb
scratchiness (ˈscratchiness)
noun
Word origin
C15: via Old French escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German krazzōn (German kratzen); related to Old French gratter to grate1
Scratch in American English
(skrætʃ)
noun
[sometimess-]
the Devil
: usually Old Scratch
Word origin
altered (infl. by scratch) < ME skratte < ON skratti, monster, sorcerer, akin to OHG scraz, goblin < IE base *(s)ker-, to shrink > scrannel
scratch in American English
(skrætʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to mark, break, or cut the surface of slightly with something pointed or sharp
2.
to tear or dig with the nails or claws
3.
a.
to rub or scrape lightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching, etc.
b.
to chafe
4.
to rub or scrape with a grating noise
to scratch a match on a wall
5.
to write or draw hurriedly or carelessly
6.
to strike out or cancel (writing, etc.)
7.
to gather or collect with difficulty; scrape (together or up)
8. Sport
to withdraw (an entry) from a contest, specif. from a horse race
verb intransitive
9.
to use nails or claws in digging or wounding
10.
to rub or scrape the skin lightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching, etc.
11.
to manage to get by; scrape by
12.
to make a harsh, scraping noise
13.
to withdraw from a race or contest
14.
in certain card games, to score no points
15. Billiards and Pool
to commit a scratch
noun
16.
the act of scratching
17.
a mark or tear made in a surface by something sharp or rough
18.
a wound, usually superficial, inflicted by nails, claws, or something pointed pulled across the skin, etc.
19.
a slight grating or scraping sound
20.
a hasty mark, as of a pen; scribble
21.
the starting line of a race
22.
in certain card games, a score of zero
23. US, Slang
money
24. Billiards and Pool
a.
a shot that results in a penalty
b.
a miss
25. Sport
a.
the starting point or time of a contestant who receives no handicap
b.
such a contestant
c.
an entry withdrawn from a contest
adjective
26. US
used for hasty notes, preliminary or tentative figuring, etc.
scratch paper
27.
skillful enough to require no handicap or special allowance in a contest
a scratch golfer
28.
put together in haste and without much selection
a scratch team
29. US, Baseball
designating a chance hit credited to a batter for a ball not hit sharply, but on which the batter reaches base safely
Idioms:
from scratch
scratch the surface
up to scratch
Derived forms
scratcher (ˈscratcher)
noun
Word origin
LME scracchen, prob. altered < scratten, to scratch, based on cracchen < or akin to MDu cratsen, to scratch < IE base *gred- > Alb gërüj, (I) scratch
More idioms containing
scratch
scratch your head
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
something or someone is not up to scratch
start from scratch
scratch the surface of something
Examples of 'scratch' in a sentence
scratch
There were scratches and cuts all over her legs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The pair prove as irresistible to each other as an itch to a scratch.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Locals say walking the glass into their homes has scratched wooden floors.
The Sun (2009)
She struck him on the face and scratched his neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was rebuilt from scratch in six months.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The answer came when he rode the scratch race and won it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Those of us who write in these pages are aware that we scratch the surface of sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The historic buildings barely had a scratch.
The Sun (2012)
One or two members of the commentary team scratched their heads when they saw it.
The Sun (2011)
Perhaps a repeat of that situation would cause a scratch of the head.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But reports of scratches on his face and blood and vomit traces found at the death scene remained unexplained.
The Sun (2007)
Leicester are still scratching that itch.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is so sensitive, the slightest scratch can cause it to swell.
The Sun (2014)
If not, learn from scratch together.
The Sun (2015)
It looks like a bird's claw has scratched out a small chunk.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She was rushed to hospital with a scratched eyeball, cuts and bruises.
The Sun (2013)
The bird glides on a loop of air, and lands with only the slightest scratch of talons.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
THE blokes had the blonde tennis player scratching her bottom.
The Sun (2007)
I spotted a man in his underpants on the fifth floor, scratching himself and yawning.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
scratch
British English: scratch /skrætʃ/ NOUN
Scratches on someone or something are small cuts.
He had scratches on his face and neck.
American English: scratch
Arabic: خَدْش
Brazilian Portuguese: arranhão
Chinese: 抓痕
Croatian: ogrebotina
Czech: škrábnutí
Danish: rift
Dutch: schram
European Spanish: rasguño
Finnish: naarmu
French: égratignure
German: Schramme
Greek: γδάρσιμο
Italian: graffio
Japanese: かき傷
Korean: 긁기
Norwegian: ripe
Polish: zadrapanie
European Portuguese: arranhão
Romanian: zgârietură
Russian: царапина
Latin American Spanish: rasguño
Swedish: repa
Thai: รอยข่วน
Turkish: çizme boyasını vb
Ukrainian: подряпина
Vietnamese: vết xước
British English: scratch /skrætʃ/ VERB
with nails If you scratch part of your body, you rub your nails against your skin.
He scratched his head.
Don't scratch!
American English: scratch
Arabic: يَخْدِشُ
Brazilian Portuguese: arranhar com as unhas
Chinese: 抓
Croatian: češati
Czech: škrábat
Danish: klø
Dutch: krabben
European Spanish: arañar
Finnish: raapaista
French: griffer
German: kratzen
Greek: γδέρνω
Italian: graffiare
Japanese: 引っ掻く
Korean: 긁다
Norwegian: klore
Polish: podrapać
European Portuguese: arranhar
Romanian: a scărpina
Russian: царапать
Latin American Spanish: arañar
Swedish: repa
Thai: เกา
Turkish: çizmek arabanın boyasını vb
Ukrainian: чухати
Vietnamese: làm xước
British English: scratch /skrætʃ/ VERB
something sharp If a sharp thing scratches someone or something, it makes small cuts on their skin or on its surface.
The branches scratched my face.
American English: scratch
Arabic: يَخْدِشُ
Brazilian Portuguese: arranhar
Chinese: 擦伤
Croatian: ogrebati
Czech: poškrábat
Danish: rive
Dutch: krassen
European Spanish: arañar
Finnish: raapia
French: égratigner
German: kratzen
Greek: γρατζουνίζω
Italian: graffiare
Japanese: ･･･に引っかき傷をつける
Korean: 긁다
Norwegian: skrape
Polish: podrapać
European Portuguese: arranhar
Romanian: a zgâria
Russian: царапать
Latin American Spanish: rayar
Swedish: riva
Thai: ขีดข่วน ขูดขีด
Turkish: çizmek
Ukrainian: дряпати
Vietnamese: làm xước da
All related terms of 'scratch'
Old Scratch
the devil ; Satan
scratch pad
A scratch pad is a temporary storage memory in a computer .
from scratch
If you do something from scratch , you do it without making use of anything that has been done before.
scratch card
A scratch card is a card with hidden words or symbols on it. You scratch the surface off to reveal the words or symbols and find out if you have won a prize .
scratch file
A scratch file is a temporary computer file which you use as a work area or as a store while a program is operating .
scratch line
the starting line of a race
scratch mark
the mark left by a scratch
scratch paper
Scratch paper is paper that is used for quick notes, drafts , or sketches .
scratch race
a race in which all contestants start on equal terms
scratch score
an estimated number of strokes for a hole or course that a scratch player should make
scratch sheet
a publication listing horses removed from the day's races at one or another racetrack
scratch tape
a magnetic tape that is used for temporary storage , which may be erased and re-used
scratch test
a skin test to determine allergic sensitivity to various substances by placing the allergen to be tested over an area of lightly scratched skin. A positive reaction is typically indicated by the formation of a weal
scratch video
the technique or practice of recycling images from films or television to make collages
scratch together
to assemble with difficulty
up to scratch
If you say that someone or something is not up to scratch , you mean that they are not good enough.
cat-scratch fever
a disease of humans caused by an organism , Bartonella henselae , usually resulting from a scratch by a cat and characterized by lymph node enlargement
scratch and sniff
denoting a product that releases a smell when scratched
scratch 'n' sniff
denoting a product that releases a smell when scratched
scratch one's head
If you say that someone is scratching their head , you mean that they are thinking hard and trying to solve a problem or puzzle .
scratch your head
to be puzzled and unsure about what to do about a problem or question, or to be unsure what the solution is
start from scratch
to create something completely new, rather than adding to something that already exists
cat-scratch disease
an ailment characterized by fever and swollen glands and believed to be caused by bacteria transmitted by the scratch or bite of a cat
scratch the surface
If you only scratch the surface of a subject or problem , you find out or do a small amount, but not enough to understand or solve it.
standard scratch score
the number of strokes a scratch player would need to go round a particular course , based on the length of each hole to the green and allowing 36 putts for the round
scrap paper
waste paper
to scrape a living scratch a living
If you say that someone scrapes a living or scratches a living , you mean that they manage to earn enough to live on, but it is very difficult . In American English, you say they scrape out a living or scratch out a living .
you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours
People say ' You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours ' to mean that one person helps another on condition that the second person helps them in return .
scratch the surface of something
to deal with or experience only a small part of something
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
said to mean that one person helps another on condition that the second person helps them in return
something or someone is not up to scratch
said to mean that something or someone is not as good as they ought to be
Chinese translation of 'scratch'
scratch
(skrætʃ)
n(c)
(on car, furniture) 刮痕 (guāhén) (条(條), tiáo)
(on body) 擦伤(傷) (cāshāng) (处, chù)
vt
(= damage)[car, furniture, etc]划(劃)破 (huápò)
(because of itch) 搔 (sāo)
(= claw) 抓 (zhuā)
vi
搔痒(癢) (sāoyǎng)
to do sth from scratch白手起家做某事 (bái shǒu qǐ jiā zuò mǒushì)
to be up to scratch合格 (hégé)
to scratch the surface (of sth)(对(對)某事)浅(淺)尝(嘗)辄(輒)止 ((duì mǒushì) qiǎn cháng zhé zhǐ)