scrap

1 of 4

noun (1)

often attributive
1
scraps plural : fragments of discarded or leftover food
2
a
: a small detached piece
a scrap of paper
b
: a fragment of something written, printed, or spoken
scraps of conversation
c
: the least bit
not a scrap of evidence
3
scraps plural : cracklings
4
a
: fragments of stock removed in manufacturing
b
: manufactured articles or parts rejected or discarded and useful only as material for reprocessing
especially : waste and discarded metal

scrap

2 of 4

verb (1)

scrapped; scrapping

transitive verb

1
: to convert into scrap
2
: to abandon or get rid of as no longer of enough worth or effectiveness to retain
scrap outworn methods

scrap

3 of 4

noun (2)

: fight

scrap

4 of 4

verb (2)

scrapped; scrapping
Choose the Right Synonym for scrap

discard, cast, shed, slough, scrap, junk mean to get rid of.

discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit
finally sloughed off the depression

scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways
would junk our educational system

Examples of scrap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
On a recent day, a woman wandered through Balata’s narrow alleyways, collecting aluminum cans to resell as scrap metal to support her four children. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 They were crafted from old furniture, scrap wood, and other used flammable materials that would otherwise be discarded. Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2024 Archaeologists also identified preserved wooden coffins, wooden crosses and scraps of silk scapulars, which are necklace-like devotional objects. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Using scrap metal and mostly hand tools, each worker is responsible for a different part of the production including cutting metal parts, shaping them, sanding them and welding them. Orlando Matos, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 One positive step already taken is the fact that scrap dealers in Texas have to take a picture of people selling metal, which can be helpful to law enforcement investigating thefts. Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024 The food scraps started breaking down quickly, within a few days of adding scraps into each bin, and the quick-working worms helped prevent odors. Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024 Morgan Stanley said several factors were inhibiting an increase in the use of scrap steel, including: A tight relationship between the profitability of steel mills and scrap costs which limits the financial appeal of scrap over iron ore. Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Set aside the scraps to fry as a treat for all your hard work. Yewande Komolafe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
The Biden administration retired the app in 2022 due to low usage and effectively scrapped the short form. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The first-term Kansas Republican would scrap the temporary, one-week extension of last year’s budget for some federal agencies. Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 The collab has reportedly been in the works for over a decade, and was intended to appear on but apparently scrapped from Cyrus’ 2013 album Bangerz. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 During a fourth-quarter earnings call last month, Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said some direct routes to destinations like Las Vegas and Orlando were going to be scrapped by the summer. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024 Bok said the need to scrap legacy admissions had become more urgent as competition for college access has grown. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Doctors are pointing to the low number of births as a reason the government should scrap its plan to raise medical school intakes by about two-thirds. Sam Kim, Fortune Asia, 28 Feb. 2024 Those advocates would like to see the practice scrapped all together. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 When it was pointed out that sand would not be able to safely hold the stage’s speaker monitors in place, the plan was scrapped. Dave Brooks, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old Norse skrap scraps; akin to Old Norse skrapa to scrape

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scrap was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near scrap

Cite this Entry

“Scrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrap. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scrap

1 of 4 noun
1
plural : pieces of discarded or leftover food
2
: a small bit : fragment
3
: things discarded as worthless

scrap

2 of 4 verb
scrapped; scrapping
1
: to break up into scrap
2
: to discard as worthless

scrap

3 of 4 noun

scrap

4 of 4 verb
scrapped; scrapping
scrapper noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English scrap "discarded bits of food"; of Norse origin

Noun

origin unknown

More from Merriam-Webster on scrap

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