I. ˈskrach verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: blend of scrat (I) and obsolete English cratch to scratch; obsolete English cratch from Middle English cracchen, probably from Middle Dutch cratsen to scratch, scrape; akin to Old High German krazzōn to scratch, Old Swedish kratta to scratch, Albanian gërrüej I scratch
transitive verb
1. : to scrape with the claws or nails
scratched out the eyes of the owl — Ben Jonson
2. : to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged : scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across
hard enough to scratch glass
legs scratched by the briers
3. : to scrape or rub lightly with something pointed or rough in order to relieve itching
took turns scratching each other's backs
or as a gesture indicating perplexity or hesitation
thoughtfully scratching his jaw
scratched his head in bewilderment
4.
a. : to dig or heap with the claws
b. : to scrape (as money) together
5.
a. : to make shallow cuts on the surface of
scratched his boot soles to prevent slipping
— often used with up
the table was all scratched up by the movers
b. : to write or draw (as letters, figures) on a surface by such cuts
scratched a map on the wet sand
scratched his initials on the silver cover
c. : to cultivate lightly : make shallow furrows in
6.
a. : to cancel by drawing a line through
b. : to obliterate with repeated strokes of the pen — used with out
c. obsolete : to expel or bar from a club
d. : to withdraw (an entry) from competition
his horse was scratched in the third race
e. : to mark (a ballot) so as to vote for most of the candidates of one party but for some belonging to another party
7. : to write or draw hastily or roughly : scribble
scratched a note
scratched his signature
8. : scratchbrush
scratch a casting
9. : to scrape along a rough surface
scratch a match
10. : to spur (a horse) by keeping the feet moving in a kicking motion alternately forward and backward
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to use the claws in digging, tearing, or wounding
that cat will scratch
b. : to find or make one's way or one's living
turned out at an early age to scratch for themselves
2. : to rub oneself with something pointed or rough to relieve itching
3. : to gather money or get a living by hard work and saving
4. : to make a thin grating sound
this pen scratches
the dog was scratching lightly at the door
5.
a. : to withdraw from a contest after one's name is listed
b. : to fail to keep a social engagement
6. : to scratch the name of a candidate on the ticket of one's party or faction : split the ticket
7.
a. : to make a scratch in billiards or pool
b. : to score by a scratch
•
- scratch one's back
- scratch the surface
II. noun
( -es )
1. : a mark or injury produced by scratching : a slight wound
came through the battle without a scratch
2. scratches plural but singular or plural in construction : grease heel in its early stages
3. : a line or furrow that is made in a surface by rasping or rubbing with a pointed or jagged object
her ring left a scratch on the polished table top
a million years, a mere scratch on the surface of earth's time — W.E.Swinton
4. : a written scrawl : scribble
5. : a short wig
6. : the sound made by scratching
scratch of a pencil
especially : noise caused by the friction of a phonograph needle on the surface of a record
7.
a. : the line from which contestants start in a race
b. : nothing , zero
two whole towns have had to be built almost from scratch — Kent Strong
task of organizing a major institution of learning almost from scratch — William DuBois
8.
a. : a line formerly drawn across a prize ring that a contestant had to approach to begin or continue the fight
b. : a trial or test of courage
imagine myself wanting at the scratch — Henry James †1916
c. : satisfactory physical condition or standard of performance
bulls … that are not up to scratch as to size — Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
her acting was right up to scratch
bringing him up to fighting scratch — H.J.Laski
9. : the starting time or station or initial score of a competitor who neither is allowed odds nor receives a penalty
10. : a contestant (as a horse or dog) whose name has been withdrawn from a race in which it was entered
a list of late scratches
11. also scratch feed : a poultry feed (as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground especially to induce birds to exercise
12.
a. : a shot in billiards or pool that fails to comply with some requirement of the game and involves loss of the player's turn ; specifically : a pocketing of the cue ball without touching the object ball
b. : a shot that scores by accident : fluke
c. : scratch hit
13. slang : money
III. adjective
1. : made as or used for a tentative effort
scratch map
2. : made or done by chance and not in the way intended
scratch shot
3. : arranged or put together with little selection of material : haphazard
scratch meal
scratch team
4. : made up of heterogeneous elements insufficient to be representative
scratch vote
5. of a contest or a contestant : being without handicap or allowance
scratch golfer
one of the scratch boats in a handicap race
6. : canceled
IV. intransitive verb
: to produce a rhythmic scratching sound by moving a phonograph record back and forth under a phonograph needle
he cuts and scratches , spinning records, giving the crowd something other than the bass to feel — Danyel Smith
V. adjective
: made from scratch : made with basic ingredients