scratch

[ skrach ]

/ skrætʃ /

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See synonyms for scratch on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

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.

to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching.

to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface: to scratch a match on the sidewalk.

to erase, cancel, strike out, or eliminate (a name, something written, etc.) by or as if by drawing a line through it (often followed by out): Scratch out the third name on the list.

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

U.S. Politics.

to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.
to strike out or reject a particular name or names on (a party ticket) in voting.

to write or draw by scraping or cutting the lines into a surface: She scratched her initials on the glass.

to manipulate (a phonograph record) back and forth under the stylus to produce rhythmic sounds.

verb (used without object)

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

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

to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.

to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty: We scratched along that year on very little money.

to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.

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

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

noun

a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching: three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.

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

an act of scratching.

the slight grating sound caused by scratching.

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

Billiards, Pool.

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

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

Baseball. scratch hit.

scratch wig.

Slang. money; cash.

adjective

used for hasty writing, notes, etc.: scratch paper.

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

Informal. done by or dependent on chance: a scratch shot.

Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately: a scratch crew.

done or made from scratch: a scratch cake.

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Which of the following colors is used to symbolize AIR?

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Idioms about scratch

from scratch,

from the very beginning or starting point.
from nothing; without resources: After the depression he started another business from scratch.

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.

Origin of scratch

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

OTHER WORDS FROM scratch

scratch·a·ble, adjectivescratch·a·bly, adverbscratcher, nounscratchless, adjective

scratchlike, adjectiveun·scratch·a·ble, adjectiveun·scratched, adjectiveun·scratch·ing, adjective

Words nearby scratch

scraping, scrap iron, scrapper, scrapple, scrappy, scratch, scratch awl, scratchboard, scratch card, scratch coat, scratcher

Other definitions for scratch (2 of 2)

Scratch

[ skrach ]

/ skrætʃ /

noun

Old Scratch; Satan.

Origin of Scratch

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

SCRATCH VS. ITCH

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.

Quiz yourself on scratch vs. itch!

Should scratch or itch be used in the following sentence?

This new lotion makes me _____—I hope I’m not allergic to it.

How to use scratch in a sentence

In other industries, however, there may be an opportunity to update existing content instead of creating something from scratch that heavily overlaps with what you’ve already published.
How content consolidation can help boost your rankings|George Nguyen|September 10, 2020|Search Engine Land
By helping us get smarter together, community intelligence holds untapped potential of which we are just starting to scratch the surface.
The race for a COVID-19 vaccine shows the power of ‘community intelligence’|matthewheimer|September 9, 2020|Fortune
This is certainly a good time-saver, but if you want to start again from scratch, that’s fine too.
How to get started using a password manager|David Nield|September 8, 2020|Popular-Science
Neural networks can learn these rules from scratch, by trial and error, but that takes lots of time, computing power, and data—all of which can be expensive.
Disco, bell bottoms, big hair…and cutting-edge A.I.?|Jeremy Kahn|September 8, 2020|Fortune

What Dom and I have hit upon is a way to do everything from scratch that lets you start off working model-independently.
Conducting the Mathematical Orchestra From the Middle|Rachel Crowell|September 2, 2020|Quanta Magazine
“You try to always scratch where the itch is,” Huckabee said about his campaigning and rhetoric in the 2008 primary.
Why This Liberal Hearts Huckabee|Sally Kohn|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Scratch a liberal, find a fascist every time,” Woods tweeted in April.
How James Woods Became Obama’s Biggest Twitter Troll|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People will always scratch and save if a sudden burst of unrestrained pleasure can be purchased.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Starting from scratch is never easy—and the team of journalists had serious competitors in Russia's state-owned media.
Russia’s Freest Website Now Lives in Latvia|Anna Nemtsova|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“In the past, my goal was to have you scratch your head and then maybe nod it,” she says.
From Church of Christ to Pansexual Rapper|Tyler Gillespie|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the Mexican caballeros had no notion of coming up to the scratch a third time.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Not so much, either; 'cause a chicken will stir round an' scratch a livin' out the ground, sooner 'n starve.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
There was a fierce fight in which Dora came off victorious, with a scratch or two on her face and a torn dress.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
She received the infection on a part of the hand which had been previously in a slight degree injured by a scratch from a thorn.
An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae|Edward Jenner
He must have had a pin stuck in his glove, for I felt a slight scratch across the palm.
The Doctor of Pimlico|William Le Queux

British Dictionary definitions for scratch

scratch

/ (skrætʃ) /

verb

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

(often foll by at, out, off, etc) to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc

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

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

to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape

(tr sometimes foll by out) to erase by or as if by scraping

(tr) to write or draw awkwardly

(intr sometimes foll by along) to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty

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

(intr) billiards snooker

to make a shot resulting in a penalty
to make a lucky shot

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

(intr often foll by for) Australian informal to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living

to treat (a subject) superficially

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours if you will help me, I will help you

noun

the act of scratching

a slight injury

a mark made by scratching

a slight grating sound

(in a handicap sport)

a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty
(as modifier)a scratch player

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

the line from which competitors start in a race
(formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting

a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc

billiards snooker

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

poultry food

from scratch informal from the very beginning

up to scratch (usually used with a negative) informal up to standard

adjective

sport (of a team) assembled hastily

(in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty

informal rough or haphazard

Derived forms of scratch

scratchy, adjectivescratchily, adverbscratchiness, noun

Word Origin for scratch

C15: via Old French escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German krazzōn (German kratzen); related to Old French gratter to grate 1

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 scratch

scratch

In addition to the idioms beginning with scratch

scratch one's head
scratch someone's back
scratch the surface

also see:

from scratch
up to par (scratch)

scratch

Idioms about scratch

Origin of scratch

OTHER WORDS FROM scratch

Words nearby scratch

Other definitions for scratch (2 of 2)

Origin of Scratch

SCRATCH VS. ITCH

What’s the difference between scratch and itch?

Quiz yourself on scratch vs. itch!

Words related to scratch

How to use scratch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scratch

Derived forms of scratch

Word Origin for scratch

Other Idioms and Phrases with scratch