— scrapable , adj. — scrapeage , n.
/skrayp/ , v. , scraped, scraping , n.
v.t.
1. to deprive of or free from an outer layer, adhering matter, etc., or to smooth by drawing or rubbing something, esp. a sharp or rough instrument, over the surface: to scrape a table to remove paint and varnish.
2. to remove (an outer layer, adhering matter, etc.) in this way: to scrape the paint and varnish from a table.
3. to scratch, injure, or mar the surface of in this way: to scrape one's arm on a rough wall.
4. to produce by scraping: He scraped his initials on the rock.
5. to collect or do by or as if by scraping; do or gather laboriously or with difficulty (usually fol. by up or together ): They managed to scrape together a football team.
6. to rub harshly on or across (something): Don't scrape the floor with your boots!
7. to draw or rub (a thing) roughly across something: Scrape your shoes on the doormat before you come in.
8. to level (an unpaved road) with a grader.
v.i.
9. to scrape something.
10. to rub against something gratingly.
11. to produce a grating and unmusical tone from a string instrument.
12. to draw one's foot back noisily along the ground in making a bow.
13. to manage or get by with difficulty or with only the barest margin: I barely scraped through on the test.
14. to economize or save by attention to even the slightest amounts: By careful scraping they managed to survive.
n.
15. an act or instance of scraping.
16. a drawing back of the foot noisily along the ground in making a bow.
17. a harsh, shrill, or scratching sound made by scraping.
18. a scraped place: a scrape on one's elbow.
19. an embarrassing or distressing situation; predicament: He is always in some kind of a scrape.
20. a difference of opinion, fight, or quarrel; scrap.
[ bef. 1000; (v.) ME scrapen skrapa; r. ME shrapen, OE scrapian to scratch (c. ON skrapa ); (n.) late ME: scraper, deriv. of the v. ]
Syn. 14. scrimp, stint, pinch.