v. & n.
v. 1 tr. a move a hard or sharp edge across (a surface), esp. to make something smooth. b apply (a hard or sharp edge) in this way. 2 tr. (foll. by away, off, etc.) remove (a stain, projection, etc.) by scraping. 3 tr. a rub (a surface) harshly against another. b scratch or damage by scraping. 4 tr. make (a hollow) by scraping. 5 a tr. draw or move with a sound of, or resembling, scraping. b intr. emit or produce such a sound. c tr. produce such a sound from. 6 intr. (often foll. by along, by, through, etc.) move or pass along while almost touching close or surrounding features, obstacles, etc. (the car scraped through the narrow lane). 7 tr. just manage to achieve (a living, an examination pass, etc.). 8 intr. (often foll. by by, through) a barely manage. b pass an examination etc. with difficulty. 9 tr. (foll. by together, up) contrive to bring or provide; amass with difficulty. 10 intr. be economical. 11 intr. draw back a foot in making a clumsy bow. 12 tr. clear (a ship's bottom) of barnacles etc. 13 tr. completely clear (a plate) of food. 14 tr. (foll. by back) draw (the hair) tightly back off the forehead.
n. 1 the act or sound of scraping. 2 a scraped place (on the skin etc.). 3 a thinly applied layer of butter etc. on bread. 4 the scraping of a foot in bowing. 5 colloq. an awkward predicament, esp. resulting from an escapade. scrape acquaintance with contrive to get to know (a person). scrape the barrel colloq. be reduced to one's last resources.
[ ME f. ON skrapa or MDu. schrapen ]