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scratching

 - 4 dictionary results

scratch

  [skrach]
Use scratching in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
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 fol. by out): Scratch out the third name on the list.
6. to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.
7. U.S. Politics.
a. to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.
b. 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.
–verb (used without object)
10. to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.
11. to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.
12. to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.
13. to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty: We scratched along that year on very little money.
14. to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.
15. (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.
16. Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, esp. to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
–noun
17. a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching: three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.
18. a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.
19. an act of scratching.
20. the slight grating sound caused by scratching.
21. the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.
22. Billiards, Pool.
a. a shot resulting in a penalty, esp. a pocketing of the cue ball without hitting the object ball.
b. a fluke or lucky shot.
23. (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.
24. Baseball. scratch hit.
25. scratch wig.
26. Slang. money; cash.
–adjective
27. used for hasty writing, notes, etc.: scratch paper.
28. without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.
29. Informal. done by or dependent on chance: a scratch shot.
30. Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately: a scratch crew.
31. done or made from scratch: a scratch cake.
—Idioms
32. from scratch,
a. from the very beginning or starting point.
b. from nothing; without resources: After the depression he started another business from scratch.
33. 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.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME scracche (v.), b. ME scratte to scratch, and cracche to scratch; c. MD cratsen

Related forms:
scratch⋅a⋅ble, adjective
scratch⋅a⋅bly, adverb
scratcher, noun
scratchless, adjective
scratchlike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To scratching
scratch   (skrāch)   
v.   scratched, scratch·ing, scratch·es

v.   tr.

  1. To make a thin shallow cut or mark on (a surface) with a sharp instrument.

  2. To use the nails or claws to dig or scrape at.

  3. To rub or scrape (the skin) to relieve itching.

  4. To scrape or strike on an abrasive surface.

  5. To write or draw (something) by scraping a surface: scratched their initials on a rock.

  6. To write or draw hurriedly: scratched off a thank-you note.

    1. To strike out or cancel (a word, for example) by or as if by drawing lines through.

    2. Slang To cancel (a project or program, for example).

  8. To withdraw (an entry) from a contest.

v.   intr.

  1. To use the nails or claws to dig, scrape, or wound.

  2. To rub or scrape the skin to relieve itching.

  3. To make a harsh scraping sound.

  4. To gather funds or produce a living with difficulty.

    1. To withdraw from a contest.

    2. Games To make a shot in billiards that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball falls into a pocket or jumps the cushion.

n.  

    1. A mark resembling a line that is produced by scratching.

    2. A slight wound.

    3. Sports The starting line for a race.

    4. A contestant who has been withdrawn from a competition.

    5. The act of scratching in billiards.

    6. A fluke or chance shot in billiards.

  2. A hasty scribble.

  3. A sound made by scratching.

    1. Sports The starting line for a race.

    2. A contestant who has been withdrawn from a competition.

    3. The act of scratching in billiards.

    4. A fluke or chance shot in billiards.

  5. Games

    1. The act of scratching in billiards.

    2. A fluke or chance shot in billiards.

  6. Poultry feed.

  7. Slang Money.

adj.  

  1. Done haphazardly or by chance.

  2. Assembled hastily or at random.

  3. Sports Having no golf handicap.


[Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten, to scratch, and cracchen, to scratch (possibly from Middle Dutch cratsen).]
scratch'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
scratch

  1. n.
    money. : I just don't have the scratch.
  2. tv.
    to eliminate something from a list; to cancel something. : We decided to scratch the idea of a new car. The old one will have to do.
  3. mod.
    impromptu; temporary. (See also pickup.) : We started a scratch game of basketball, but most of the girls had to leave at dinnertime.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

scratch  (v.)
1474, probably a fusion of M.E. scratten and crachen, both meaning "to scratch," both of uncertain origin. The noun is attested from 1586; slang sense of "money" is from 1914, of uncertain signification. Many figurative senses (e.g. up to scratch) are from sporting use for "line or mark drawn as a starting place," attested from 1778 (but the earliest use is figurative); meaning "nothing" (in from scratch) is 1922, also from sporting sense of "starting point of a competitor who receives no odds in a handicap match." Billiards sense of "to hit the cue ball into a pocket" is first recorded 1909 (also, originally, itch), though earlier it meant "a lucky shot" (1850). Verb meaning "to withdraw (a horse) from a race" is 1865, from notion of scratching name off list of competitors; used in a non-sporting sense of "cancel a plan, etc." from 1685.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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