Showing results for "scratches"

• plural of scratch.
• present tense form of scratch (3rd person singular).

scratches

American  

[skrach-iz] / ˈskrætʃ ɪz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a disease of horses marked by dry rifts or chaps that appear on the skin near the fetlock, behind the knee, or in front of the hock.

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scratches British  

/ ˈskrætʃɪz /

noun

1. Also called: cracked heels, mud fever. (functioning as singular) a disease of horses characterized by dermatitis in the region of the fetlock

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Etymology

Origin of scratches

First recorded in 1605–15; see origin at scratch, -s ³

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scratches

Somehow the burst only caused minor scratches on his floor, he said, but his entire neighborhood was littered with blown trash cans and stray tree limbs, not to mention the severe damage to the course.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 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

What to be aware of: Skip near the eyes to avoid nasty scratches on your cornea, says the British Skin Foundation's Dr Emma Wedgeworth, and never use craft glitter.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 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

Her long whitey hair hung in damp strands and there were briar scratches on her hands.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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