—v.
1 tr. score or mark the surface of with a sharp or pointed object.
2 tr. a make a long narrow superficial wound in (the skin). b cause (a person or part of the body) to be scratched (scratched himself on the table).
3 tr. (also absol.) scrape without marking, esp. with the hand to relieve itching (stood there scratching).
4 tr. make or form by scratching.
5 tr. scribble; write hurriedly or awkwardly (scratched a quick reply; scratched a large A).
6 tr. (foll. by together, up, etc.) obtain (a thing) by scratching or with difficulty.
7 tr. (foll. by out, off, through) cancel or strike (out) with a pencil etc.
8 tr. (also absol.) withdraw (a competitor, candidate, etc.) from a race or competition.
9 intr. (often foll. by about, around, etc.) a scratch the ground etc. in search. b look around haphazardly (they were scratching about for evidence).
—n.
1 a mark or wound made by scratching.
2 a sound of scratching.
3 a spell of scratching oneself.
4 colloq. a superficial wound.
5 a line from which competitors in a race (esp. those not receiving a handicap) start.
6 (in pl.) a disease of horses in which the pastern appears scratched.
7 sl. money.
—attrib.adj.
1 collected by chance.
2 collected or made from whatever is available; heterogeneous (a scratch crew).
3 with no handicap given (a scratch race).
Phrases and idioms:
from scratch
1 from the beginning.
2 without help or advantage. scratch along make a living etc. with difficulty. scratch one's head be perplexed.
scratch my back and I will scratch yours
1 do me a favour and I will return it.
2 used in reference to mutual aid or flattery. scratch pad 1 esp. US a pad of paper for scribbling.
2 Computing a small fast memory for the temporary storage of data. scratch the surface deal with a matter only superficially. up to scratch up to the required standard.
Derivatives:
scratcher n.
Etymology: ME, prob. f. synonymous ME scrat & cratch, both of uncert. orig.: cf. MLG kratsen, OHG krazzon
Useful english dictionary. 2012.