SCRATCH

scratch, scrape, scar, mark

(noun) an indication of damage

scratch

(noun) (golf) a handicap of zero strokes; “a golfer who plays at scratch should be able to achieve par on a course”

scribble, scratch, scrawl, cacography

(noun) poor handwriting

scrape, scraping, scratch, scratching

(noun) a harsh noise made by scraping; “the scrape of violin bows distracted her”

start, starting line, scratch, scratch line

(noun) a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game

scratch

(noun) a competitor who has withdrawn from competition

boodle, bread, cabbage, clams, dinero, dough, gelt, kale, lettuce, lolly, lucre, loot, moolah, pelf, scratch, shekels, simoleons, sugar, wampum

(noun) informal terms for money

incision, scratch, prick, slit, dent

(noun) a depression scratched or carved into a surface

abrasion, scratch, scrape, excoriation

(noun) an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off

rub, fray, fret, chafe, scratch

(verb) cause friction; “my sweater scratches”

scratch, scrape, scratch up

(verb) cut the surface of; wear away the surface of

scratch, engrave, grave, inscribe

(verb) carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface; “engrave a pen”; “engraved the trophy cup with the winner’s name”; “the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree”

scrape, scrape up, scratch, come up

(verb) gather (money or other resources) together over time; “She had scraped together enough money for college”; “they scratched a meager living”

strike, scratch, expunge, excise

(verb) remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line; “Please strike this remark from the record”; “scratch that remark”

rub, scratch, itch

(verb) scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; “Don’t scratch your insect bites!”

cancel, call off, scratch, scrub

(verb) postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled; “Call off the engagement”; “cancel the dinner party”; “we had to scrub our vacation plans”; “scratch that meeting--the chair is ill”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Proper noun

Scratch

(programming) A free educational visual programming language developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.

A surname.

Etymology

Verb

scratch (third-person singular simple present scratches, present participle scratching, simple past and past participle scratched)

To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.

To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.

For a man, when kissing someone, to irritate the skin of that person with one's unshaven beard.

To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).

To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.

Hence, to remove, ignore or delete.

(music) To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).

(billiards) To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.

(billiards, dated, US) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.

To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.

(ambitransitive) To dig or excavate with the claws.

To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.

Synonyms

• scrattle

Noun

scratch (countable and uncountable, plural scratches)

A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.

An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.

(sports)

A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.

A technical error of touching or surpassing the starting mark prior to the official start signal in the sporting events of long jump, discus, hammer throw, shot put, and similar. Originally the starting mark was a scratch on the ground but is now a board or precisely indicated mark.

(cycling) The last riders to depart in a handicap race.

(billiards) An aberration.

A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.

(archaic, US, slang) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.

(horse racing) A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start.

(slang) Money.

A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.

(in the plural) Minute, but tender and troublesome, excoriations, covered with scabs, upon the heels of horses which have been used where it is very wet or muddy.

(now, historical) A scratch wig.

(music) A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi.

Synonyms

(Virgin Islander music): fungi, quelbe

Adjective

scratch (not comparable)

For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work.

Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation

(computing, from scratchpad) Relating to a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.

(sports) (of a player) Of a standard high enough to play without a handicap, i.e. to compete without the benefit of a variation in scoring based on ability.

Source: Wiktionary


Scratch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scratched; p. pr. & vb. n. Scratching.] Etym: [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE. scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazz, G. kratzen, OD. kratsen, kretsen, D. krassen, Sw. kratsa to scrape, kratta to rake, to scratch, Dan. kradse to scratch, to scrape, Icel. krota to engrave. Cf. Grate to rub.]

1. To rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or ragged; to scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across, as the claws, the nails, a pin, or the like. Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch glass.Grew. Be mindful, when invention fails., To scratch your head, and bite your nails.Swift.

2. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. Scratch out a pamphlet." Swift.

3. To cancel by drawing one or more lines through, as the name of a candidate upon a ballot, or of a horse in a list; hence, to erase; to efface; -- often with out.

4. To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow. To scratch a ticket, to cancel one or more names of candidates on a party ballot; to refuse to vote the party ticket in its entirety. [U.S.]

Scratch, v. i.

1. To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches. Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor scratch. Dr. H. More.

2. (Billiards)

Definition: To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game. [Cant, U.S.]

Scratch, n.

1. A break in the surface of a thing made by scratching, or by rubbing with anything pointed or rough; a slight wound, mark, furrow, or incision. The coarse file . . . makes deep scratches in the work. Moxon. These nails with scratches deform my breast. Prior. God forbid a shallow scratch should drive The prince of Wales from such a field as this. Shak.

2. (Pugilistic Matches)

Definition: A line across the prize ring; up to which boxers are brought when they join fight; hence, test, trial, or proof of courage; as, to bring to the scratch; to come up to the scratch. [Cant] Grose.

3. pl. (Far.)

Definition: Minute, but tender and troublesome, excoriations, covered with scabs, upon the heels of horses which have been used where it is very wet or muddy. Law (Farmer's Veter. Adviser).

4. A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.

5. (Billiards)

Definition: A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. [Cant, U.S.] Scratch cradle. See Cratch cradle, under Cratch.

– Scratch grass (Bot.), a climbing knotweed (Polygonum sagittatum) with a square stem beset with fine recurved prickles along the angles.

– Scratch wig. Same as Scratch, 4, above. Thackeray.

Scratch, a.

Definition: Made, done, or happening by chance; arranged with little or no preparation; determined by circumstances; haphazard; as, a scratch team; a scratch crew for a boat race; a scratch shot in billiards. [Slang] Scratch race, one without restrictions regarding the entrance of competitors; also, one for which the competitors are chosen by lot.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

20 June 2024

INSIGNIFICANTLY

(adverb) not to a significant degree or amount; “our budget will only be insignificantly affected by these new cuts”


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