Scratch Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Published on April 8, 2025
Scratch means to mark or cut the surface of something lightly with something sharp or to rub the skin with something pointed or rough to relieve itching. e.g., The cat will scratch if it feels threatened.
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Scratch Definitions
To make a rasping or scraping sound.
The branches scratch against the window when the wind blows.
To assemble with difficulty or by any means available.
She scratched together enough money for the bus fare.
To make a thin shallow cut or mark on (a surface) with a sharp instrument.
To use the nails or claws to dig or scrape at.
To rub or scrape (the skin) to relieve itching.
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To scrape or strike on an abrasive surface.
To write or draw (something) by scraping a surface
Scratched their initials on a rock.
To write or draw hurriedly
Scratched off a thank-you note.
To strike out or cancel (a word, for example) by or as if by drawing lines through.
(Slang) To cancel (a project or program, for example).
To withdraw (an entry) from a contest or competition
The jockey decided to scratch the horse when it sprained its ankle.
To withdraw an entry from (a contest or competition)
Having won three races already, the swimmer scratched her final event.
To use the nails or claws to dig, scrape, or wound.
To rub or scrape the skin to relieve itching.
To make a harsh scraping sound.
To gather funds or produce a living with difficulty.
To withdraw from a contest or competition.
(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.
A mark resembling a line that is produced by scratching.
A slight wound.
A hasty scribble.
A sound made by scratching.
(Sports) The starting line for a race.
A contestant who has been withdrawn from a competition.
The act of scratching in billiards.
A fluke or chance shot in billiards.
Poultry feed.
(Slang) Money.
Done haphazardly or by chance.
Assembled hastily or at random.
(Sports) Having no golf handicap.
To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
Could you please scratch my back?
To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.
To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing.
To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.
(of a surface) to get such scratches
This platter scratches easily.
To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete.
Scratch what I said earlier; I was wrong.
When the favorite was scratched from the race, there was a riot at the betting windows.
(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.
Embarrassingly, he scratched on the break, popping the cue completely 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.
Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.
To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.
The cat scratched the little girl.
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.
I can’t believe there is a scratch in the paint already.
Her skin was covered with tiny scratches.
An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.
The dog sat up and had a good scratch.
(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.
There were two scratches in race 8, which reduced the field from 9 horses to 7.
(meiosis) An injury.
It's just a scratch!
(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.
This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.
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.
Scratch memory
(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.
Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch glass.
Be mindful, when invention fails,To scratch your head, and bite your nails.
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.
Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor scratch.
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.
The coarse file . . . makes deep scratches in the work.
These nails with scratches deform my breast.
God forbid a shallow scratch should driveThe prince of Wales from such a field as this.
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;
The scrape of violin bows distracted her
Poor handwriting
An indication of damage
Cause friction;
My sweater scratches
Cut the surface of; wear away the surface of
Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching;
Don't scratch your insect bites!
To make a thin shallow cut or mark on a surface.
Be careful not to scratch the table with your keys.
To use the nails or a sharp object to relieve itching.
She had to scratch her arm where the mosquito bit her.
To scrape or rub lightly to remove something.
He scratched his name off the list.
To start something from the beginning without utilizing previous work or ideas.
After the failure, they decided to scratch the plan and start over.
To withdraw or cancel from a competition or event.
The injured player was scratched from the lineup.
To manage or survive with difficulty.
They had to scratch a living in the harsh conditions.
To cancel or strike out writing.
Scratch that remark; it's not what I meant to say.
To eliminate or remove from consideration.
You can scratch that idea; it won’t work.
Scratch Snonyms
Score
To make cuts, lines, or notches, especially for artistic or functional purposes.
The artist scored the clay before firing it.
Scrape
To drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across a surface, often to remove something.
He scraped the mud off his boots.
Itch
To have or cause an uneasy or tingling skin sensation that prompts a desire to scratch.
This wool sweater makes me itch.
Abrade
To wear down a surface by rubbing or scraping.
The constant use abraded the fabric.
Carve
To cut into a surface with a sharp instrument.
They carved their initials into the tree trunk.
Rub
To move one's hand or a cloth repeatedly back and forth over a surface with pressure.
She rubbed her eyes in fatigue.
Etch
To cut into a material with acid or another corrosive substance to create a design.
The jeweler etched a pattern onto the metal.
Graze
To touch or brush lightly in passing.
The bullet grazed his arm, leaving a shallow wound.
Incise
To mark or decorate an object with a series of cuts.
The surgeon incised the skin carefully.
Lacerate
To tear or make deep cuts in flesh or skin.
The sharp rocks lacerated his feet.
Scratch Idioms & Phrases
Up to scratch
Meeting the required standard.
His work is not up to scratch this time.
Start from scratch
To begin from a point at which nothing has been done yet.
The project failed, so we had to start from scratch.
Scratch someone’s back
To do someone a favor in the hope that a favor will be returned.
If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
Come up to scratch
To reach an acceptable standard.
After some feedback, his performance finally came up to scratch.
Scratch one’s head
To be puzzled or confused about something.
The mystery had everyone scratching their heads.
Scratch and sniff
A sticker or surface that releases a scent when scratched.
The magazine included a scratch and sniff perfume ad.
At a scratch
Ready to do something immediately.
He was at a scratch to defend his title.
From scratch
To start from the beginning, with no advantage or prior preparation.
They built their business from scratch.
Scratch the surface
To deal with or understand only a very small part of a topic or problem.
The report only scratches the surface of the issue.
A scratch team
A team assembled in a hurry with available members, not necessarily the best.
They won the game with a scratch team.
A scratch golfer
A golfer who plays at or near par.
He's become a scratch golfer over the years.
Get up to scratch
To improve so that one reaches an acceptable standard.
You need to get your grades up to scratch.
Beat from scratch
To win or achieve something by starting from the beginning, with hard work.
She beat the competition from scratch.
Make it from scratch
To make something from the basic ingredients or start point, without using anything that has already been prepared.
She made the cake from scratch.
Scratch out a living
To earn just enough money to survive.
It's hard to scratch out a living as an artist.
To have a scratch
To have a minor problem or difficulty.
We hit a scratch when the supplier backed out.
Scratch the itch
To satisfy a need or desire.
Travelling helps to scratch the itch for adventure.
Scratch that
Used to indicate that something just said should be ignored or forgotten.
We'll meet at noon—actually, scratch that, let's make it one.
On scratch
Starting without any advantage or handicap in a competition.
All contestants are on scratch for this tournament.
Scratch Example Sentences
He managed to scratch his name onto the trophy.
The fence was old and covered with scratch marks.
The cat will scratch anyone who comes too close.
I need to scratch an itch on my back.
The artist started the painting from scratch, without any reference.
You'll have to scratch off the silver coating to see the code.
The surface of the table was smooth, without a single scratch.
They had to scratch the event due to bad weather.
We decided to make the recipe from scratch, rather than using a mix.
Common Curiosities
How is "scratch" used in a sentence?
"Scratch" is used to describe the act of scraping or cutting the surface of something lightly with something sharp or the act of rubbing the skin to relieve itching.
How many syllables are in "scratch"?
There is one syllable in "scratch."
Why is it called "scratch"?
"Scratch" likely comes from the Middle English word "scratten," which means to scratch or claw, referring to the action of marking or scraping a surface.
What is a stressed syllable in "scratch"?
The entire word "scratch" is stressed, as it is only one syllable.
What is the first form of "scratch"?
The first form of "scratch" is "scratch."
What is the pronunciation of "scratch"?
"Scratch" is pronounced as /skrætʃ/.
What is the third form of "scratch"?
The third form of "scratch" is also "scratched."
What is the root word of "scratch"?
The root word of "scratch" is the Middle English "scratten," referring to scratching or clawing.
How do we divide "scratch" into syllables?
"Scratch" is a single-syllable word and is not divided.
What is the second form of "scratch"?
The second form of "scratch" is "scratched."
What part of speech is "scratch"?
"Scratch" can be used as a verb, noun, and adjective.
What is the singular form of "scratch"?
The singular form of "scratch" is "scratch."
Is "scratch" a noun or adjective?
"Scratch" can be both a noun and an adjective, in addition to being a verb.
Is "scratch" an adverb?
No, "scratch" is not an adverb.
Is the word "scratch" a gerund?
"Scratching" would be the gerund form of the verb "scratch."
What is the verb form of "scratch"?
"Scratch" itself is the base verb form.
Is "scratch" an abstract noun?
No, "scratch" is not typically used as an abstract noun.
Is "scratch" a negative or positive word?
"Scratch" is neutral, but its connotation can be negative or positive depending on the context.
Is the "scratch" term a metaphor?
"Scratch" can be used metaphorically to describe starting something from the very beginning.
Is the word “scratch” a direct object or an indirect object?
"Scratch" can serve as a direct object in sentences like "He got a scratch on his arm."
Which article is used with "scratch"?
The indefinite article "a" or the definite article "the" can be used with "scratch" when it functions as a noun.
What is another term for "scratch"?
Another term for "scratch" is "scrape."
Is "scratch" a vowel or consonant?
The word "scratch" starts with a consonant sound.
Is "scratch" a countable noun?
Yes, "scratch" is a countable noun when referring to a mark or injury.
Which vowel is used before "scratch"?
There is no specific vowel used before "scratch"; it depends on the context and preceding word in a sentence.
Which preposition is used with "scratch"?
Prepositions like "on," "from," and "with" can be used with "scratch," depending on the context.
Which conjunction is used with "scratch"?
Conjunctions such as "and" or "but" can connect clauses or phrases involving "scratch."
What is the plural form of "scratch"?
The plural form of "scratch" is "scratches."
What is the opposite of "scratch"?
The opposite of "scratch" could be "smooth" or "heal," depending on the context.
Is "scratch" a collective noun?
No, "scratch" is not a collective noun.
Is the word "scratch" imperative?
Yes, "scratch" can be used in the imperative form to give commands.
Which determiner is used with "scratch"?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or "my" can be used with "scratch" when it functions as a noun.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
