Scratch

/skrætʃ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A mark or cut made by scratching.

She had a scratch on her cheek from the cat.

A temporary solution or a preliminary version.

He made a scratch of the design before finalizing it.

A noise or sound produced by a rough contact.

There was a scratch on the record that caused a distortion in the music.

verb

To rub a surface with something sharp or pointed in order to scrape off a layer.

She scratched the surface of the wood to remove the paint.

To make a small cut or mark on a surface, typically with a fingernail or sharp object.

He accidentally scratched his arm on the thorny bush.

To cancel or eliminate something, especially a plan or idea.

They had to scratch their plans for a picnic due to the rain.

Middle English: from Old Norse ‘skratta’ meaning 'to scratch or scrape'.

scratch someone's back

To help someone with the expectation that they will return the favor.

start from scratch

To begin again from the very beginning without any advance or preparation.

scratch the surface

To only address or explore a small part of a subject or issue.

scratching

The action of making a scratch.

scratcher

An object or tool used for scratching.

scratchpad

A notepad used for jotting down quick notes or ideas.

Money or cash.

I need to find some scratch to pay the bills.

A sudden cancellation or withdrawal.

They gave him the scratch on the event at the last minute.