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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 to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.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

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

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

In a matter of months, it has built its first-ever sales force, distribution network and reimbursement operation from scratch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

"I don't know, I just lost it a little bit. I had a little itch and I had to scratch it," Itauma said.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Rather than starting entirely from scratch, existing antibodies may be adaptable for use as powerful laboratory tools and, potentially, as the foundation for future treatments aimed at disease-causing proteins.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

Speaking of which, there also will be new school meal items: a vegan blueberry muffin, Poly High’s Butter Chicken, a cheesesteak on sourdough and chicken posole made from scratch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The mere mention of fleas made the children squirm and scratch.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

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

Scratch card winners have 30 days from the date of purchase to claim their winnings, and for Jean-Davide and his unlikely collaborators, the deadline is fast approaching.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2025

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

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2025

And then DJ Scratch came up to me at the Wu show in Vegas and was like, “Yo, I chopped up three of your joints already” and I was like, “Have fun.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2024

“Lucy, rub his head. Scratch him behind the ears.”

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

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

This car was brought in following a relatively minor accident, and Harrowell points to a few scratches and scrapes on the protective casing of the battery underneath the car.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Diabetes can damage foot nerves, making it easier for patients to miss small scratches and wounds that could lead to serious infections.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

"Is this stuff good for any animal?" he asked as his father smeared the salve on his scratches.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

But the performers billed for Indianapolis, country music singer Thomas Rhett and Disco Lines, a DJ, were abruptly scratched.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

The government advised not to use eclipse glasses if the lenses are scratched, torn or damaged.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Cosmo itched so much from allergies that he constantly scratched himself raw and unleashed a howl when we were gone for too long, so loud and haunting that my neighbor thought it was a siren.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Mice with the specialized neurons scratched normally in response to itch.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

Maya-Jade had taken to wearing a pencil behind her ear to take notes, and now she took it out and scratched something down before tapping the pencil against her chin.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

CEO Tom Hale says the company is only scratching the surface when it comes to the type of individualized health guidance AI can provide.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

With residents already scratching and swatting, it took only a couple of charismatic entomologists to win over the right politicians to move legislation forward.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

Simply shining blue light onto the mice triggered the same scratching behavior seen during mechanical stimulation, providing strong evidence that these neurons directly produce the itch sensation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

The letters have left many Californians scratching their heads as to what went wrong and scrambling to reschedule their tests to ensure they don’t lose the ability to drive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Mr. Dovlo hauled himself up with effort, scratching at his bites.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

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