scratch
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: skrăch
ipa: /skɹæt͡ʃ/
rhymes: -ætʃ
Forms: form: scratches
form: scratching
form: scratched
form: scratched
Etymology: From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch.
Senses: examples: text: Could you please scratch my back?
text: Then riſing with Aurora’s Light, / The Muse invok’d, ſit down to write; / Blot out, correct, inſert, refine, / Enlarge, diminiſh, interline; / Be mindful, when Invention fails, / To ſcratch your Head, and bite your Nails.
ref: 1733, [Jonathan Swift], On Poetry: A Rapsody, Dublin; London: […] [R. Fleming] [a]nd sold by J. Huggonson, […], →OCLC, pages 7–8, lines 85–90:
synonyms: scrabble
glosses: To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
examples: text: I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.
text: Sometimes I lost track of them and had to hunt round in a circle, thrusting through sharp-scented bushes, scratching myself [translating m’écorchant] on various plants which were still new to me: resinaceous rock-roses, juniper, ilex, yellow and white asphodel.
ref: 1962, Simone de Beauvoir, translated by Peter Green, The Prime of Life, Cleveland, OH: The World Publishing Company, translation of La Force de l'âge, →OCLC, page 77:
glosses: To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
glosses: To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing.
examples: text: A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.
glosses: To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
examples: text: This platter scratches easily.
glosses: to get such scratches
raw_tags: of a surface
glosses: To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
examples: text: Scratch what I said earlier; I was wrong.
text: When the favorite was scratched from the race, there was a riot at the betting windows.
glosses: To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete.
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).
examples: text: Embarrassingly, he scratched on the break, popping the cue completely off the table.
topics: ball-games
billiards
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
topics: ball-games
billiards
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
examples: text: If any of the Labourers can ſcratch out a Pamphlet, they deſire no more; There is no Queſtion offered about the Wit, the Style, the Argument.
ref: 1714 February, [Jonathan Swift], The Publick Spirit of the Whigs: Set forth in Their Generous Encouragement of the Author of the Crisis: […], London: […] [John Barber] for John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 1:
glosses: To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.
examples: text: Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.
glosses: To dig or excavate with the claws.
examples: text: The cat scratched the little girl.
glosses: To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.
examples: text: Kerley, 26, is the 2019 World bronze medalist at 400 meters, a distance he is known for and with which he also won the 2017 and 2019 U.S. titles, but surprised the track world by announcing one week ago that he scratched the 400m and would focus on the 100m and 200m in Eugene, Oregon, despite not having raced the 100m between 2015 and 2020.
ref: 2021 June 21, Brandon Penny, NBC Sports:
text: Hurtis-Houairi, in lane three, quickly caught Arron, who was in lane four, winning in 22.80. Arron, who scratched the 100m semis in order to focus on the longer sprint, could only run 23.44.
ref: 2008 July 26, P-J Vazel, World Athletics:
topics: athletics
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
swimming
glosses: To announce one's non-participation in a race or sports event part of a larger sports meeting that one was previously signed up for, usually in lieu of another event at the same meeting.
Derived terms: head-scratching
scratch a liberal and a fascist bleeds
scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist
scratch a living
scratch-and-dent
scratch and sniff
scratch an itch
scratch below the surface
scratch beneath the surface
scratch by
scratcher
scratch one's head
scratch one's own itch
scratch out
scratchpad
scratch someone's back
scratch that
scratch the itch
scratch the surface
scratch together
scratch up
scratchy
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours