Definition of scratch
transitive verb
1 : to scrape or dig with the claws or nails
2 : to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged
3a : to scrape or rub lightly (as to relieve itching)b : to act on (a desire) —used with itch scratch the itch to travel
4 : to scrape together : collect with difficulty or by effort scratch out a living
5 : to write or draw on a surface
6a : to cancel or erase by or as if by drawing a line throughb : to withdraw (an entry) from competition
8 : to scrape along a rough surface scratch a match
intransitive verb
scratcher
nounscratch one's back
scratch one's head
scratch the surface
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Examples of scratch in a Sentence
Will you scratch my back for me?
Scratching the itch only makes it worse.
The dog scratched its ear.
You shouldn't scratch. It'll just make your itch worse.
Thorns scratched our legs as we climbed through the briars.
Careful, the cat will scratch.
The dog was scratching at the door.
Be careful not to scratch the table.
Someone scratched the paint on my car.
The little boy scratched lines in the dirt with a stick.
Recent Examples of scratch from the Web
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At least that's a lot less than this head-scratching $10,000 pizza bikini—and probably tastier.
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Males often chased, bit, struck, and scratched fertile females (easily distinguished by their bright red, swollen hindquarters), but not pregnant or lactating females.
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A very long handshake with with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe also was a bit head-scratching to the public, as was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's outright refusal to shake hands with Trump.
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Every rap group needs a D.J., someone to spin the records and scratch them to the beat.
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The singer-songwriter, who plays the Southgate House Sunday, continued to scratch out a living, more admired by his peers than embraced by the music-buying public.
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The truth is, all the Thornton-Marleau intrigue barely scratches the surface of what lies ahead on a busy upcoming calendar for Wilson and the beloved Los Tiburones.
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Its paws were scratching her arms and legs wildly as Borch screamed and cried.
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A community center included in the original plans has since been scratched.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scratch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of scratch
Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten to scratch and cracchen to scratch
scratch
Definition of scratch
1 : a mark or injury produced by scratching; also : a slight wound
3 : the sound made by scratching
4 : the starting line in a race
5a : a test of courageb : satisfactory condition, level, or performance not up to scratch
6 : a contestant whose name is withdrawn
7 : poultry feed (such as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground especially to induce birds to exercise —called also scratch feed
8a : a shot in billiards or pool that ends a player's turn; specifically : a shot in pool in which the cue ball falls into the pocketb : a shot that scores by chance : fluke
from scratch
Examples of scratch in a Sentence
There's a scratch in the paint on the new car!
The table is an antique but it doesn't have any dents or scratches.
I got a scratch on my leg when I climbed the fence.
The only sound in the room during the test was the scratch of pencils on paper.
We don't have the scratch to buy a new car.
Recent Examples of scratch from the Web
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Parents sending kids from middle school to high school won't have to start from scratch getting to know who oversees the schools.
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While many of its 1 million users hawk scale models and jewelry, a savvy seller can create a custom car part from scratch once the design work has been done.
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Officers noted the girl had scratch marks on both sides of her neck and a bump on her forehead above her right eye that was bruising.
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There was no drama—no crash, no fall, no crack, no blood, no bruise, no bump—not even a scratch.
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One of my favorite memories is when my oldest daughter, Dahlia, who is 9, made pasta from scratch for the very first time.
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From the hotel's in-room dining to the sushi at Yoshi, the dessert cart at Joël Robuchon and even lunch on the pool-side terrace at Odyssey, everything at the hotel is made in-house from scratch—and is insanely delicious.
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Scratch is surely among the craft breweries most in touch with Mother Nature’s abundance, using primarily home-grown, locally sourced, and foraged ingredients in their recipes.
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Owner Jose Cruz recommends starting your meal with a warm batch of these made-from-scratch beignets ($5.60), plated with Nutella and raspberry jam dipping sauces.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scratch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
The phrase up to scratch has its origins in the world of sports. In the 18th century, scratch began to be used for a line or mark that served as the starting point in a contest or competition. In order to begin or continue a fight, for example, a pugilist would "come up to the scratch," positioning himself at a line drawn across the prize ring. Up to the scratch was soon being used figuratively of anyone who was ready and able to do something. Over the years, the usage of the phrase has evolved somewhat, but something that is "up to scratch" can still be said to be ready and able in that it is capable of functioning or performing as expected.
First Known Use of scratch
circa 1586
scratch
Definition of scratch
1 : arranged or put together with little selection : haphazard a scratch team
2 : made as or used for a tentative effort
3 : made or done by chance and not as intended a scratch shot
4 : having no handicap or allowance a scratch golfer
5 : made from scratch : made with basic ingredients a scratch cake
Recent Examples of scratch from the Web
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The TechMatte screen protectors were extremely scratch-resilient compared to others, including protectors that cost more than $40.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scratch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of scratch
1851
SCRATCH Defined for English Language Learners
scratch
playDefinition of scratch for English Language Learners
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: to rub your skin with something sharp (such as your fingernails) especially in order to stop an itch
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: to make a shallow and narrow cut in (your skin) with something sharp (such as fingernails, claws, etc.)
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: to rub a surface or object with something sharp or rough in a way that produces a harsh sound
scratch
Definition of scratch for English Language Learners
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: a line or mark in the surface of something that is caused by something rough or sharp rubbing against it
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: a shallow and narrow cut in the skin that is caused by something sharp
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: the sound made when something sharp rubs against a surface or object
scratch
Definition of scratch for English Language Learners
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of a golfer : having no handicap
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: put together quickly and without enough planning or thought
SCRATCH Defined for Kids
Definition of scratch for Students
scratched
;scratching
1 : to scrape or rub lightly scratch an itch He scratched his head.
2 : to injure by scraping with something sharp He scratched his thumb on a nail.
3 : to make a scraping noise The dog was scratching at the door.
4 : to erase by scraping I scratched out my mistake.
Definition of scratch for Students
: a mark or injury made by scraping with something sharp
Learn More about scratch
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See words that rhyme with scratch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scratch Spanish Central: Translation of scratch Nglish: Translation of scratch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scratch for Arabic speakers
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