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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

scratch.

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

7 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

verb/skɹæt͡ʃ/
  1. 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?
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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

    A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.
  5. To get such scratches.

    This platter scratches easily.
  6. To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.

  7. 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.
  8. To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).

  9. 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.
  10. To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.

    US · dated
  11. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.

  12. To dig or excavate with the claws.

    ambitransitive
    Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.

Where this word comes from

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Potentially a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch. Compare Old English scrama, Old Norse skråma, German Schramme (“scratch”), which may be related.

noun/skɹæt͡ʃ/
  1. A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.

    countable · uncountable
    I can’t believe there is a scratch in the paint already.
    Her skin was covered with tiny scratches.
  2. An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.

    countable · uncountable
    The dog sat up and had a good scratch.
  3. A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.

    countable · uncountable
  4. 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.

    countable · uncountable
  5. The last riders to depart in a handicap race.

    countable · uncountable
  6. An aberration. A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.

    countable · uncountable
  7. An aberration. A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.

    US · archaic · countable · slang · uncountable
  8. A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start.

    countable · uncountable
    There were two scratches in race 8, which reduced the field from nine horses to seven.
  9. A minor injury.

    countable · uncountable
    It's just a scratch!
  10. Money; especially, cash.

    countable · slang · uncountable
  11. A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.

    countable · uncountable
  12. 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.

    countable · in-plural · uncountable
  13. A scratch wig.

    countable · historical · uncountable
  14. A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi.

    countable · uncountable
  15. Poor handwriting; especially, illegibly so.

    countable · uncountable
  16. Nothing, zero. Used especially in card games or sports, but also expressions like "from scratch".

    countable · uncountable
Where this word comes from

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Potentially a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch. Compare Old English scrama, Old Norse skråma, German Schramme (“scratch”), which may be related.

adj/skɹæt͡ʃ/
  1. For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work.

    not-comparable
    This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.
  2. Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation

    not-comparable
  3. Relating to a scratchpad, a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.

    not-comparable
  4. (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.

    not-comparable
Where this word comes from

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Potentially a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch. Compare Old English scrama, Old Norse skråma, German Schramme (“scratch”), which may be related.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.