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
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
scrapped; scrapping
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
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
- cashier
- cast (off)
- chuck
- deep-six
- discard
- ditch
- dump
- eighty-six
- 86
- exorcise
- exorcize
- fling (off or away)
- jettison
- junk
- lay by
- lose
- pitch
- reject
- shed
- shuck (off)
- slough (off)
- sluff (off)
- throw away
- throw out
- toss
- unload
Noun (2)
- altercation
- argle-bargle [chiefly British]
- argument
- argy-bargy [chiefly British]
- battle royal
- bicker
- brawl
- contretemps
- controversy
- cross fire
- disagreement
- dispute
- donnybrook
- falling-out
- fight
- hassle
- imbroglio
- kickup
- misunderstanding
- quarrel
- rhubarb
- row
- set-to
- spat
- squabble
- tiff
- wrangle
Verb (2)
Examples of scrap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rob Schmitz, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
The company was founded in 1941 as Krueger Metal Products to make basic folding chairs from scrap metal, about as modest a start as a company with global reach could have.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Keep your kitchen clean because gnats are attracted to food scraps.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Apr. 2024
Billie Eilish recently spoke with Billboard about her decision to use 100% recycled vinyl, plus recycled scraps for colored variants and shrink-wrap packaging made from sugar cane, materials that Audiodrome is also using.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024
When Ringgold’s mother died, the artist created a piece to honor her called Mother’s Quilt (1983), sewn from fabric scraps the women were saving for future projects.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2024
These scraps are Winston’s yearnings, memories, sensual instincts, which have, as yet, somehow gone unmurdered by the regime.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
The light poles join a growing list of bronze items stolen in recent months, probably for their scrap value.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
What's more, food waste is minimized by the kitchen's upcycling team, which turns scraps into preserves, pickles, and stocks.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Investors had been eagerly awaiting further news from Tesla leadership about when new models would hit the market after a report the company was scrapping them entirely in favor of its robotaxi efforts.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
The attraction moved to Disneyland after the World’s Fair — but the Tower of the Four Winds was dismantled and scrapped.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 22 Apr. 2024
The company’s stock has seen a precipitous decline this year, as competition from China heats up and plans for a cheaper electric vehicle have apparently been scrapped in favor of an all-in push for robotaxis.
—Brian Barrett, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The legislation was inspired by a similar law in New Zealand that passed in December 2022 but was scrapped in February this year after a new government led by the conservative Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was sworn in.
—Anna Gordon, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
But Reuters reported this month that the company has scrapped plans for that car, stoking concerns about future prospects.
—Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The Wichita Eagle reported that the thieves planned to scrap the metal from the statue for money, according to court records.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The show started out with a laugh track but scrapped it for Season Two.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
The walls, old billboards and other scrap found here among the refugee camps of Rafah, on the opposite side of the Gaza Strip from his home.
—Rob Schmitz, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
The company was founded in 1941 as Krueger Metal Products to make basic folding chairs from scrap metal, about as modest a start as a company with global reach could have.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Keep your kitchen clean because gnats are attracted to food scraps.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Apr. 2024
Billie Eilish recently spoke with Billboard about her decision to use 100% recycled vinyl, plus recycled scraps for colored variants and shrink-wrap packaging made from sugar cane, materials that Audiodrome is also using.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024
When Ringgold’s mother died, the artist created a piece to honor her called Mother’s Quilt (1983), sewn from fabric scraps the women were saving for future projects.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2024
These scraps are Winston’s yearnings, memories, sensual instincts, which have, as yet, somehow gone unmurdered by the regime.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
The light poles join a growing list of bronze items stolen in recent months, probably for their scrap value.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
What's more, food waste is minimized by the kitchen's upcycling team, which turns scraps into preserves, pickles, and stocks.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Verb
In an April 23 letter, a group of 41 Republicans in Congress urged Rosenworcel to scrap the net neutrality rules.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Investors had been eagerly awaiting further news from Tesla leadership about when new models would hit the market after a report the company was scrapping them entirely in favor of its robotaxi efforts.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
The attraction moved to Disneyland after the World’s Fair — but the Tower of the Four Winds was dismantled and scrapped.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 22 Apr. 2024
The company’s stock has seen a precipitous decline this year, as competition from China heats up and plans for a cheaper electric vehicle have apparently been scrapped in favor of an all-in push for robotaxis.
—Brian Barrett, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The legislation was inspired by a similar law in New Zealand that passed in December 2022 but was scrapped in February this year after a new government led by the conservative Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was sworn in.
—Anna Gordon, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
But Reuters reported this month that the company has scrapped plans for that car, stoking concerns about future prospects.
—Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The Wichita Eagle reported that the thieves planned to scrap the metal from the statue for money, according to court records.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The show started out with a laugh track but scrapped it for Season Two.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near scrap
Cite this Entry
“Scrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrap. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrap
2 of 4 verb
scrapped; scrapping
1
: to break up into scrap
2
: to discard as worthless
scrap
3 of 4 nounEtymology
Noun
Middle English scrap "discarded bits of food"; of Norse origin
Noun
origin unknown
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