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   scratch

   /skratʃ/

   verb

   • 1. score or mark the surface of (something) with a sharp or pointed object: "the car's paintwork was battered and scratched" Similar scoreabradescraperoughenscuff (up)lacerategroovegashengraveincisegouge
   • ▪ make a long, narrow superficial wound in the skin of: "her arms were scratched by the thorns" Similar grazescrapeabraderaspskinrub rawcutlaceratebarkchafestripflaywoundtechnical:excoriate
   • ▪ rub (a part of one's body) with one's fingernails to relieve itching: "Jessica lifted her sunglasses and scratched her nose" Similar rubclaw (at)scrapetear at
   • ▪ make (a mark or hole) by scoring a surface with a sharp or pointed object: "I found two names scratched on one of the windowpanes"
   • ▪ write (something) hurriedly or awkwardly.
   • ▪ remove (something) from something else by pulling a sharp implement over it: "he scratched away the plaster"
   • ▪ make a rasping or grating noise by scraping something over a hard surface: "the dog scratched to be let in"
   • ▪ (of a bird or mammal, especially a chicken) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food: "the hens cannot do anything that comes naturally to them, such as scratch around"
   • ▪ search for (someone or something that is hard to locate or find): "he's still scratching around for a woman to share his life"
   • ▪ accomplish (something) with great effort or difficulty: "Tabitha wondered how long the woman had been scratching a living on the waterways"
   • ▪ make a living with difficulty: "many architects now scratch along doing loft conversions"
   • 2. cancel or strike out (writing) with a pen or pencil: "the name of Dr McNab was scratched out and that of Dr Dunstaple substituted" Similar cross outstrike outscore outdeleteeraseremovestrike offeliminatecancelexpungeobliterate
   • ▪ withdraw (a competitor) from a competition: "Jolie's Halo was scratched from a minor stakes race at Monmouth Park" Similar withdrawpull out (of)back out (of)bow out (of)stand downgive upleavequit
   • ▪ (of a competitor) withdraw from a competition: "due to a knee injury she was forced to scratch from the race"
   • ▪ cancel or abandon (an undertaking or project): "banks seem prepared to scratch stabilization charges"
   • 3. play a record using the scratch technique. "he raps and scratches simultaneously to dazzling effect"

   noun

   • 1. a mark or wound made by scratching: "the scratches on her arm were throbbing" Similar scoremarklineabrasionscrapescufflacerationgroovegashgouge
   • ▪ a slight or insignificant wound or injury: informal "it's nothing—just a scratch" Similar grazescrapeabrasioncutlacerationwound
   • ▪ an act or spell of scratching oneself to relieve itching: "he gave his scalp a good scratch"
   • ▪ a rasping or grating noise produced by something rubbing against a hard surface: "the scratch of a match lighting a cigarette"
   • ▪ a rough hiss, caused by the friction of the stylus in the groove, heard when a record is played.
   • 2. a technique, used especially in rap music, of stopping a record by hand and moving it back and forwards to give a rhythmic scratching effect: "a scratch mix"
   • 3. (in sport) the starting point in a race for a competitor that is not given a handicap or advantage: "a 631-metres handicap, when the excellent stayer, Too Fast, will be off scratch"
   • ▪ a handicap of zero, indicating that a player is good enough to achieve par on a course: "he plays off scratch in University golf"
   • 4. money: informal "he was working to get some scratch together"

   adjective

   • 1. assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality: "City were fielding a scratch squad"
   • 2. (of a sports competitor or event) with no handicap given: "he was a scratch player at many courses"

   Word Origin late Middle English: probably a blend of the synonymous dialect words scrat and cratch, both of uncertain origin; compare with Middle Low German kratsen and Old High German krazzōn.

   Derivatives

   • 1. scratcher noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • R

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   • A

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   • T

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   • C

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   • H

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