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scratch
1[ skrach ]
verb (used with object)
- to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough:
to scratch one's hand on a nail.
- to dig, scrape, or tear (something) out or off with or as if with the nails, claws, etc.:
to scratch the burs off one's coat.
- to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching.
- to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface:
to scratch a match on the sidewalk.
- to erase, cancel, strike out, or eliminate (a name, something written, etc.) by or as if by drawing a line through it (often followed by out ):
Scratch out the third name on the list.
- to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.
- U.S. Politics.
- to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.
- to strike out or reject a particular name or names on (a party ticket) in voting.
- to write or draw by scraping or cutting the lines into a surface:
She scratched her initials on the glass.
- to manipulate (a phonograph record) back and forth under the stylus to produce rhythmic sounds.
verb (used without object)
- to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.
- to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.
- to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.
- to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty:
We scratched along that year on very little money.
- to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.
- (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.
- Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, especially to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
noun
- a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching:
three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.
- a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.
- an act of scratching.
- the slight grating sound caused by scratching.
- the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.
- Billiards, Pool.
- a shot resulting in a penalty, especially a pocketing of the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
- a fluke or lucky shot.
- (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.
- Baseball. scratch hit.
- Slang. money; cash.
adjective
- used for hasty writing, notes, etc.:
scratch paper.
- without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.
- Informal. done by or dependent on chance:
a scratch shot.
- Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately:
a scratch crew.
- done or made from scratch:
a scratch cake.
Scratch
2[ skrach ]
noun
- Old Scratch; Satan.
scratch
/ ²õ°ì°ùʳÙÊ /
verb
- to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument
- often foll byat, out, off, etc to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc
- to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching
- to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)
- to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape
- trsometimes foll byout to erase by or as if by scraping
- tr to write or draw awkwardly
- intrsometimes foll byalong to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty
- to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc
- intr billiards snooker
- to make a shot resulting in a penalty
- to make a lucky shot
- tr to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election
- informal.introften foll byfor to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living
- to treat (a subject) superficially
- you scratch my back and I'll scratch yoursif you will help me, I will help you
noun
- the act of scratching
- a slight injury
- a mark made by scratching
- a slight grating sound
- in a handicap sport
- a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty
- ( as modifier )
a scratch player
- the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor
- the line from which competitors start in a race
- (formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting
- a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc
- billiards snooker
- a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket
- a lucky shot
- poultry food
- from scratch informal.from the very beginning
- up to scratch informal.usually used with a negative up to standard
adjective
- sport (of a team) assembled hastily
- (in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty
- informal.rough or haphazard
Derived Forms
- ˲õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óŸ±²Ô±ð²õ²õ, noun
- ˲õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³ó²â, adjective
- ˲õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óŸ±±ô²â, adverb
Other yÐÄvlogs From
- ²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîa·²ú±ô±ð adjective
- ²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîa·²ú±ô²â adverb
- ²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîœÄ°ù noun
- ²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîl±ð²õ²õ adjective
- ²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîlŸ±°ì±ðî adjective
- un·²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîa·²ú±ô±ð adjective
- ³Ü²Ô·²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³ó±ð»åî adjective
- ³Ü²Ô·²õ³Š°ù²¹³Ù³Š³óîi²Ô²µ adjective
yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of scratch1
Origin of scratch2
yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of scratch1
Idioms and Phrases
- from scratch,
- from the very beginning or starting point.
- from nothing; without resources:
After the depression he started another business from scratch.
- up to scratch, in conformity with a certain standard; adequate; satisfactory:
The local symphony orchestra has improved this year, but it is still not up to scratch.
More idioms and phrases containing scratch
- from scratch
- up to par (scratch)
Example Sentences
I remember the first time I made spaghetti sauce from scratch, long before I understood ratios or had any true sense of technique.
The girl has puncture wounds and scratches but didnât need any stitches.
In a shot that likely got left in Robert Altman's scratch pad for being too on-the-nose, the Nashville star wrote "Get me to God's country" over an image of his private jet.
When some of Trumpâs team tried to shift blame to Joe Biden, we all could just shake and scratch our heads.
But Gridless now plans an ambitious next move - to build their own hydro-plants from scratch to mine for bitcoin and bring electricity to rural areas.
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Scratch Vs. Itch
Whatâs the difference between scratch and itch?
To scratch something is to scrape it or rub it. An itch is a feeling of irritation on the skin, often one that makes you want to scratch it. The word itch can also be used as a verb meaning to have this sensation (as in My leg itches) or to cause to itch (as in The tag on my shirt keeps itching me).
Itch also has some more figurative meanings as both a noun and a verb.
The reason you looked this up, though, is because itch is sometimes informally used to mean the same thing as scratch, as in Try not to itch your mosquito bitesâit will only make them itchier! Language purists are often itching to clarify that you scratch an itch, but this verb use of itch is quite common.
As a noun, the word scratch means something differentâa cut or scrape, typically a minor one caused by something having scratched the skin, as in I got a few scratches from the thornbush.Â
Hereâs an example of scratch and itch used correctly in the same sentence.
Example: I know your rash itches, but donât scratch your itch so hardâyouâll leave a scratch on your arm!
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between scratch and itch.
Quiz yourself on scratch vs. itch!
Should scratch or itch be used in the following sentence?
This new lotion makes me _____âI hope Iâm not allergic to it.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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