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.

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.