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• scratch
  scratch

  verb (used with object)

  to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough.
• Scratch
  Scratch

  noun

  Old Scratch; Satan.

scratch

¹ American  

[skrach] / skrætʃ /

verb (used with object)

• scratches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• scratched,
  past participle,  past
• scratching
  present participle

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 byout ).

   Scratch out the third name on the list.

6. to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.

7. U.S. Politics.

   1. to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.

   2. 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.

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verb (used without object)

• scratches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• scratched,
  past participle,  past
• scratching
  present participle

1. to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.

2. to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.

3. to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.

4. to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty.

   We scratched along that year on very little money.

5. to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.

6. (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.

7. Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, especially to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.

noun

• scratches
  plural

1. a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching.

   three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.

2. a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.

3. an act of scratching.

4. the slight grating sound caused by scratching.

5. the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.

6. Billiards, Pool.

   1. a shot resulting in a penalty, especially a pocketing of the cue ball without hitting the object ball.

   2. a fluke or lucky shot.

7. (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.

8. Baseball. scratch hit.

9. scratch wig.

10. Slang. money; cash.

adjective

1. used for hasty writing, notes, etc..

   scratch paper.

2. without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.

3. Informal. done by or dependent on chance.

   a scratch shot.

4. Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately.

   a scratch crew.

5. done or made from scratch.

   a scratch cake.

idioms

1. 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.

2. from scratch,

   1. from the very beginning or starting point.

   2. from nothing; without resources.

      After the depression he started another business from scratch.

Scratch ² American  

[skrach] / skrætʃ /

noun

1. Old Scratch; Satan.

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scratch British  

/ skrætʃ /

verb

1. to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument

2. to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc

3. to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching

4. to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)

5. to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape

6. to erase by or as if by scraping

7. (tr) to write or draw awkwardly

8. to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty

9. to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc

10. (intr) billiards snooker

    1. to make a shot resulting in a penalty

    2. to make a lucky shot

11. (tr) to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election

12. informal to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living

13. to treat (a subject) superficially

14. if you will help me, I will help you

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noun

1. the act of scratching

2. a slight injury

3. a mark made by scratching

4. a slight grating sound

5. 1. a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty

   2. ( as modifier )

      a scratch player

6. the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor

7. 1. the line from which competitors start in a race

   2. (formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting

8. a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc

9. billiards snooker

   1. a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket

   2. a lucky shot

10. poultry food

11. informal from the very beginning

12. informal (usually used with a negative) up to standard

adjective

1. sport (of a team) assembled hastily

2. (in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty

3. informal rough or haphazard

scratch More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing scratch

• from scratch
• up to par (scratch)

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Usage

What’s the difference between scratch and itch? To scratch something is to scrape it or rub it. An itch is a feeling of irritation on the skin, often one that makes you want to scratch it. The word itch can also be used as a verb meaning to have this sensation (as in My leg itches) or to cause to itch (as in The tag on my shirt keeps itching me). Itch also has some more figurative meanings as both a noun and a verb. The reason you looked this up, though, is because itch is sometimes informally used to mean the same thing as scratch, as in Try not to itch your mosquito bites—it will only make them itchier! Language purists are often itching to clarify that you scratch an itch, but this verb use of itch is quite common. As a noun, the word scratch means something different—a cut or scrape, typically a minor one caused by something having scratched the skin, as in I got a few scratches from the thornbush. Here’s an example of scratch and itch used correctly in the same sentence. Example: I know your rash itches, but don’t scratch your itch so hard—you’ll leave a scratch on your arm!Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between scratch and itch.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scratcher
  noun
• scratchiness
  noun
• scratchable
  adjective
• scratchless
  adjective
• scratchlike
  adjective
• scratchy
  adjective
• unscratchable
  adjective
• unscratched
  adjective
• unscratching
  adjective
• scratchably
  adverb
• scratchily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scratches
  plural

Participles

• scratching
  present
• scratched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• scratch
  simple
• scratches
  simple
• have scratched
  perfect
• has scratched
  perfect
• am scratching
  progressive
• are scratching
  progressive
• is scratching
  progressive
• have been scratching
  perfect progressive
• has been scratching
  perfect progressive

Past

• scratched
  simple
• had scratched
  perfect
• was scratching
  progressive
• were scratching
  progressive
• had been scratching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will scratch
  simple
• will have scratched
  perfect
• will be scratching
  progressive
• will have been scratching
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of scratch¹

1425–75; late Middle English scracche (v.), blend of Middle English scratte to scratch, and cracche to scratch; cognate with Middle Dutch cratsen

Origin of Scratch²

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

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Explanation

I didn’t remember to bring my puppy, Fido, in from the snow until he began to frantically scratch at the door. A scratch is marking or marring a surface with something sharp, such as a nail against metal or fingernails across skin. If someone has scratch marks on their skin, you might wonder if they have been in a fight where there was scratching. Scratch can also mean to eliminate something, as in, “You can scratch our idea, the boss is going with the new guy’s plan.” And Scratch, often referred to as Old Scratch, is a longstanding nickname of the Devil.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scratch Scratch scratches scratched scratching

It seemed very likely that I was going to have to leave New York and begin from scratch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

But he says it’s better than the alternative — forgetting it’s there and reaching up to scratch or rub his face.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

A lack of a substantial governing background has its advantages, too, as it allows her to draw up positions from scratch.

From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2026

Instead of starting from scratch, the immune system appears to reactivate an established inflammatory response.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

They chant from the Torah that miraculously survived the journey from Toledo without a scratch or tear.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Record Scratch: A music industry coalition is pushing streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music to label songs made by and with AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

Rosie Matthews, from Chew Valley in Somerset, said she was relieved to have taken out higher-level insurance just weeks before her cat, Scratch, was hit by a car.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

Scratch the surface of American politics or culture, and medievalism seems to always be lurking just beneath.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2025

Scratch cooking and cooking education initiatives have been proven to help cut down on food waste and improve students’ nutritional intake, both in the United States and in Germany.

From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2024

“I wonder. Scratch a Karstark and you’ll find a Stark.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

"It scratches an itch for me as an artist to do something different and not meet the status quo."

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Three of the jail guards sustained minor injuries and scratches, Bland said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

A new study led by researchers at the University of Bologna suggests that the markings were far more organized than simple scratches or improvised decorations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

Duration measures how far a fund drops when rates rise, and a long-term Treasury fund can post deep losses on a move that barely scratches a short-term bond fund.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

It had some scrapes and scratches, but no major damage.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

“We haven’t even scratched the surface; infrastructure is a long, long tail. It takes a long time for regulatory approval for building and then obviously deploying.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

The health of the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong is a state secret, guarded so tightly that a scratched dinner can send China-watchers scrambling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

But on Monday, vandals scratched the star, which was dedicated in 1984, leaving Parton's name badly defaced, with video on social media showing the damage.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Kitten Seer hopped onto my chest, stretching her little black fluffy limbs while I scratched her chin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

He was dirty and scratched, like a true warrior.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

Harris has grown to 6 feet 6 and is only scratching the surface of his ability because he missed his first two years of high school with an injury.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

This announcement of another independent committee will no doubt leave some people scratching their heads.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Laurie Bolewitz reads a spooky “tale” to sleepover guests as a black cat perches on a scratching post.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

So the idea that he would stake his company’s future on a takeover of another pharma giant left investors scratching their heads, with many running for cover in recent days.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Then I stepped over to his mate on the right and, just to be fair, gave this one a good scratching, too.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

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Related Words

• claw
• etch
• graze
• rub
• scrape
• scrawl
• scribble

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