scrape

[ skreyp ]
See synonyms for: scrapescrapedscraping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),scraped, scrap·ing.
  1. to deprive of or free from an outer layer, adhering matter, etc., or to smooth by drawing or rubbing something, especially 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.

  1. to scratch, injure, or mar the surface of in this way: to scrape one's arm on a rough wall.

  2. to produce by scraping: He scraped his initials on the rock.

  3. to collect or do by or as if by scraping; do or gather laboriously or with difficulty (usually followed by up or together): They managed to scrape together a football team.

  4. to rub harshly on or across (something): Don't scrape the floor with your boots!

  5. to draw or rub (a thing) roughly across something: Scrape your shoes on the doormat before you come in.

  6. to level (an unpaved road) with a grader.

  7. Digital Technology. to extract (data) from a digital source for automated replication, formatting, or manipulation by a computer program, as in data mining or website data analysis: This project scrapes comments on online forums for linguistic research.We can scrape older data from obsolete systems with a very simple interface.

verb (used without object),scraped, scrap·ing.
  1. to scrape something.

  2. to rub against something gratingly.

  1. to produce a grating and unmusical tone from a string instrument.

  2. to draw one's foot back noisily along the ground in making a bow.

  3. to manage or get by with difficulty or with only the barest margin: I barely scraped through on the test.

  4. to economize or save by attention to even the slightest amounts: By careful scraping they managed to survive.

noun
  1. an act or instance of scraping.

  2. a drawing back of the foot noisily along the ground in making a bow.

  1. a harsh, shrill, or scratching sound made by scraping.

  2. a scraped place: a scrape on one's elbow.

  3. an embarrassing or distressing situation; predicament: He is always in some kind of a scrape.

  4. a difference of opinion, fight, or quarrel; scrap.

  5. Digital Technology.

    • the process of extracting data from a digital source for automated replication, formatting, or manipulation by a computer program, as in data mining or website data analysis: How long will the scrape take to complete?

    • the product of this process: The scrape maliciously copied private content to manipulate search engine rankings.

Origin of scrape

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb scrapen, from Old Norse skrapa (replacing Middle English shrapen Old English scrapian “to scratch”); cognate with Old Norse skrapa; noun derivative of the verb

Other words for scrape

Other words from scrape

  • scrap·a·ble, adjective
  • scrapeage, noun
  • un·scraped, adjective

Words Nearby scrape

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scrape in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scrape

scrape

/ (skreɪp) /


verb
  1. to move (a rough or sharp object) across (a surface), esp to smooth or clean

  2. (tr; often foll by away or off) to remove (a layer) by rubbing

  1. to produce a harsh or grating sound by rubbing against (an instrument, surface, etc)

  2. (tr) to injure or damage by rough contact: to scrape one's knee

  3. (intr) to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and scrape)

  4. (intr) to draw the foot backwards in making a bow

  5. (tr) to finish (a surface) by use of a scraper

  6. (tr) to make (a bearing, etc) fit by scraping

  7. bow and scrape to behave with excessive humility

noun
  1. the act of scraping

  2. a scraped place

  1. a harsh or grating sound

  2. informal an awkward or embarrassing predicament

  3. informal a conflict or struggle

Origin of scrape

1
Old English scrapian; related to Old Norse skrapa, Middle Dutch schrapen, Middle High German schraffen

Derived forms of scrape

  • scrapable, adjective
  • scraper, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with scrape

scrape

see (scrape the) bottom of the barrel; bow and scrape; scare (scrape) up.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.