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Definitions for Scratch

[1] 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.
[2] 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.
[3] to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching.
[4] to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface: to scratch a match on the sidewalk.
[5] 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.
[6] to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.
[7] 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.
[8] to write or draw by scraping or cutting the lines into a surface: She scratched her initials on the glass.
[9] to manipulate (a phonograph record) back and forth under the stylus to produce rhythmic sounds.
[10] to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.
[11] to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.
[12] to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.
[13] to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty: We scratched along that year on very little money.
[14] to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.
[15] (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.
[16] Billiards , Pool . to make a shot that results in a penalty, especially to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
[17] a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching: three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.
[18] a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.
[19] an act of scratching.
[20] the slight grating sound caused by scratching.
[21] the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.
[22] 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.
[23] (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.
[24] Baseball . scratch hit.
[25] scratch wig.
[26] Slang . money; cash.
[27] used for hasty writing, notes, etc.: scratch paper.
[28] without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.
[29] Informal . done by or dependent on chance: a scratch shot.
[30] Informal . gathered hastily and indiscriminately: a scratch crew.
[31] done or made from scratch: a scratch cake.
[32] from scratch , from the very beginning or starting point. from nothing; without resources: After the depression he started another business from scratch.
[33] 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.
[34] Old Scratch; Satan.
[35] to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument
[36] (often foll by at, out, off, etc ) to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc
[37] to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching
[38] to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)
[39] to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape
[40] (tr sometimes foll by out ) to erase by or as if by scraping
[41] (tr) to write or draw awkwardly
[42] (intr sometimes foll by along ) to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty
[43] to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc
[44] (intr) billiards snooker to make a shot resulting in a penalty to make a lucky shot
[45] (tr) US to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election
[46] (intr often foll by for ) Australian informal to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living
[47] to treat (a subject) superficially
[48] you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours if you will help me, I will help you
[49] the act of scratching
[50] a slight injury
[51] a mark made by scratching
[52] a slight grating sound
[53] (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
[54] the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor
[55] 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
[56] a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc
[57] billiards snooker a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket a lucky shot
[58] poultry food
[59] from scratch informal from the very beginning
[60] up to scratch (usually used with a negative) informal up to standard
[61] sport (of a team) assembled hastily
[62] (in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty
[63] informal rough or haphazard

Words related to Scratch

laceration, blemish, scrape, rub, graze, scrawl, claw, etch, scribble, pull, withdraw, delete, gash, score, hurt, prick, lacerate, damage, incise, scarify

Words nearby Scratch

scrapie, scraping, scrapper, scrapple, scrappy, scratch, scratch awl, scratch card, scratch coat, scratch file, scratch hardness

Origin of Scratch

1730–40; alteration of scrat hermaphrodite (late Middle English scratte; compare Old English scritta (once), which may be an error for *scratta ); cognate with Old Norse skratti devil, goblin, wizard, Old High German skraz wood-demon

Other words from Scratch

scratch·a·ble , adjective
scratch·a·bly , adverb
scratch·er , noun
scratch·less , adjective
scratch·like , adjective
un·scratch·a·ble , adjective
un·scratched , adjective
un·scratch·ing , adjective

Word origin for Scratch

C15: via Old French escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German krazzōn (German kratzen ); related to Old French gratter to grate 1

Synonyms for Scratch

blemish, laceration, scrape, gash, graze, hurt, score, claw mark