Claw vs. Scratch — What's the Difference?

A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or tarsus for gripping a surface as they walk.

Score or mark the surface of (something) with a sharp or pointed object

A curved pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.

Cancel or strike out (writing) with a pen or pencil

Scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails

Play a record using the scratch technique.

(of a sailing ship) beat to windward

A mark or wound made by scratching

A sharp, curved, horny structure at the end of a toe of a vertebrate animal.

A technique, used especially in rap music, of stopping a record by hand and moving it back and forwards to give a rhythmic scratching effect

A chela or similar pincerlike structure on the end of a limb of a crustacean or arachnid.

(in sport) the starting point in a race for a competitor that is not given a handicap or advantage

One of one or more small curved structures at the tip of an appendage of an invertebrate, especially an insect or other arthropod.

Money

A limb terminating in such a structure.

Assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality

Something, such as the cleft end of a hammerhead, that resembles a claw.

(of a sports competitor or event) with no handicap given

(Botany) A narrowed, stalklike basal part of a petal, sepal, or bract.

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

To scratch, dig, tear, or pull with the claws or fingernails.

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

A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.

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

A foot equipped with such.

To scrape or strike on an abrasive surface.

The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.

To write or draw (something) by scraping a surface

A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.

To write or draw hurriedly

(colloquial) A human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.

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

(botany) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.

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

(juggling) The act of catching a ball overhand.

To withdraw (an entry) from a contest or competition

To scratch or to tear at.

To withdraw an entry from (a contest or competition)

To use the claws to seize, to grip.

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

To use the claws to climb.

To rub or scrape the skin to relieve itching.

(juggling) To perform a claw catch.

To make a harsh scraping sound.

To move with one's fingertips.

To gather funds or produce a living with difficulty.

To relieve an uneasy feeling, such as an itch, by scratching (someone or something); hence (figuratively), to flatter or humour (someone); to court, to fawn on.

To withdraw from a contest or competition.

To rail at, revile, or scold (someone or something).

(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.

To do (something) quickly.

A mark resembling a line that is produced by scratching.

A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.

A slight wound.

The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.

A hasty scribble.

Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.

A sound made by scratching.

A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base of petals of the pink.

(Sports) The starting line for a race.

To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails.

A contestant who has been withdrawn from a competition.

To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court.

The act of scratching in billiards.

To rail at; to scold.

A fluke or chance shot in billiards.

To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a claw.

Poultry feed.

Sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

(Slang) Money.

A mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something

Done haphazardly or by chance.

A structure like a pincer on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods

Assembled hastily or at random.

A bird's foot that has claws

(Sports) Having no golf handicap.

Move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging;

To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.

Clutch as if in panic;

To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.

Scratch, scrape, pull, or dig with claws or nails

To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing.

Attack as if with claws;

To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).

(of a surface) to get such scratches

To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.

Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete.

(music) To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).

(billiards) To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.

To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.

To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.

(ambitransitive) To dig or excavate with the claws.

To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.

To announce one's non-participation in a race or sports event part of a larger sports meeting that they were previously signed up for, usually in lieu of another event at the same meeting.

A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.

An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.

(sports)

A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.

A technical error of touching or surpassing the starting mark prior to the official start signal in the sporting events of long jump, discus, hammer throw, shot put, and similar. Originally the starting mark was a scratch on the ground but is now a board or precisely indicated mark.

(cycling) The last riders to depart in a handicap race.

(billiards) An aberration.

(horse racing) A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start.

(meiosis) An injury.

(slang) Money.

A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.

(in the plural) Minute, but tender and troublesome, excoriations, covered with scabs, upon the heels of horses which have been used where it is very wet or muddy.

A scratch wig.

(music) A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi.

Scrawled or illegible handwriting; chicken scratch.

For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work.

Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation

(computing) Relating to a scratchpad, a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.

(sports) (of a player) Of a standard high enough to play without a handicap, i.e. to compete without the benefit of a variation in scoring based on ability.

To rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or ragged; to scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across, as the claws, the nails, a pin, or the like.

To write or draw hastily or awkwardly.

To cancel by drawing one or more lines through, as the name of a candidate upon a ballot, or of a horse in a list; hence, to erase; to efface; - often with out.

To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.

To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches.

To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.

A break in the surface of a thing made by scratching, or by rubbing with anything pointed or rough; a slight wound, mark, furrow, or incision.

A line across the prize ring; up to which boxers are brought when they join fight; hence, test, trial, or proof of courage; as, to bring to the scratch; to come up to the scratch.

Minute, but tender and troublesome, excoriations, covered with scabs, upon the heels of horses which have been used where it is very wet or muddy.

A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.

A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.

In various sports, the line from which the start is made, except in the case of contestants receiving a distance handicap.

Made, done, or happening by chance; arranged with little or no preparation; determined by circumstances; haphazard; as, a scratch team; a scratch crew for a boat race; a scratch shot in billiards.

An abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off

A depression scratched or carved into a surface

Informal terms for money

Dry mash for poultry

A harsh noise made by scraping;

Poor handwriting

An indication of damage

Cause friction;

Cut the surface of; wear away the surface of

Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching;