scratch

Definition of scratch in English English dictionary: To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation
I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.; An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation
The dog sat up and had a good scratch.; Hastily assembled; put together in a hurry or from disparate elements
Bluecoats began crossing the James on June 14 and next day two corps approached Petersburg, which was held by Beauregard with a scratch force of 2,500.; Constructed from whatever materials are to hand; 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; To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching); 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.; For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work
This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.; Relating to a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use; Money
He and Bruce cooked up a script together, and Bruce flew home to raise the scratch.; A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground); A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table; 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 standard high enough to play without a handicap, i.e. to compete without the benefit of a variation in scoring based on ability; A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching
Her skin was covered with tiny scratches.; 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 remove, ignore or delete
When the favorite was scratched from the race, there was a riot at the betting windows.; an indication of damage cut the surface of; wear away the surface of; {n} a very slight wound; {v} to rub with the nails write badly, mark out lines; informal terms for money; Actual score, without a handicap added; a harsh noise made by scraping; "the scrape of violin bows distracted her"; 1) A descriptive term meaning "temporary" 2) A scratch vocal is a vocal done during a basic recording session to help the musicians play their parts At a later date the final vocal track is overdubbed 3) The action of a musician or disc jockey quickly moving a record back and forth with a phono cartridge reproducing the stylus motion to create a rhythm pattern of sound; To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; 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; To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow; To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game; A foul in pool, where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table (some versions, in order to avoid scratching, require the cue ball to touch a rail after contacting another ball); If you only scratch the surface of a subject or problem, you find out or do a small amount, but not enough to understand or solve it. Officials say they've only scratched the surface of the drug problem We had only two weeks to tour Malaysia, which was hardly enough time to scratch the surface; {f} scrape, rub; make a small cut or laceration; scrape with the fingernails to relieve an itch; make a grating sound; scribble, scrawl; achieve or obtain with difficulty; delete, cross out; The simplest race First one to the finish line wins; Actual score, without a handicap added Bowling without the benefit of handicap; To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving; a scratch(noun); {i} scrape, abrasion; cut, small laceration; grating sound produced by scratching; scrawl, scribble; score of zero; starting line for a race; cash, money (Slang); an indication of damage; If you do something from scratch, you do it without making use of anything that has been done before. Building a home from scratch can be both exciting and challenging; A memory region or a file used by a program as a place to keep work in progress Many Screen RIPs and conversion products use scratch files during processing; Without benefit of handicap; actual score; 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; A linear grove which damages the base or sensitized side of the film and which is usually caused by mechanical means Scratches in the base generally appear as black lines when observed in a reader, but they have a clear appearance, except for dirt accumulation, when observed with a viewer Scratches in the emulsion may appear light when viewed on a reader, but may appear dark or clear when viewed with the unaided eye Dark lines in the emulsion are caused by scratches occurring prior to developing, while clear lines are generally caused by scratches occurring after development; If you say that someone or something is not up to scratch, you mean that they are not good enough. My mother always made me feel I wasn't coming up to scratch; cut the surface of; wear away the surface of; 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; {s} used for quick writing (such as "scratch pad"); made from scratch; (Slang) done by chance; If a sharp object scratches someone or something, it makes small shallow cuts on their skin or surface. The branches tore at my jacket and scratched my hands and face Knives will scratch the worktop; when a musher is out of the race because of dog or personal problems; from scratchpad, describes a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary-use purposes; one that can be scribbled on without loss. Usually in the combining forms scratch memory, scratch register, scratch disk, scratch tape, scratch volume, scratch space. See also scratch monkey; To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable, by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader. See scratching; poor handwriting; A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke; (from an event) withdraw an entry from competition; A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head; A deep line or groove in a coin caused by contact with a sharp or rough object (much more dramatic than a hairline); a depression scratched or carved into a surface; 1 zero handicap, no handicap strokes deducted 2 a player with (approximately) a 0 handicap Example: 1 The tournament was played at scratch 2 Jill was a scratch player from the regular men's tees; cause friction; "my sweater scratches"; an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off; If you say that someone is scratching their head, you mean that they are thinking hard and trying to solve a problem or puzzle. The Institute spends a lot of time scratching its head about how to boost American productivity; 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; Also called a gouge or dig This artifact is defined as a long, transparent, linear defect that affects the contrast performance It is typically specified by the width and the length of the artifact; A shallow cut or narrow groove in the flooring surface A line or furrow made in the flooring surface by rasping or rubbing with a pointed or jagged object; If you scratch yourself, you rub your fingernails against your skin because it is itching. He scratched himself under his arm The old man lifted his cardigan to scratch his side I had to wear long sleeves to stop myself scratching; A player without handicap meaning that he can complete the course on par; 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; In various sports, the line from which the start is made, except in the case of contestants receiving a distance handicap; dry mash for poultry; To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches; 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; scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; "Don't scratch your insect bites!"
scratch and sniff: Describing any of various products that are impregnated with a substance that releases an odour when scratched
scratch card: a lottery ticket containing sections covered with an opaque waxy film which may be removed by scratching to reveal symbols that show whether a prize has been won
scratch cards: plural form of scratch card
scratch one's head: To puzzle, ponder, or wonder about something
Faced with a box full of hundreds of small parts and forty pages worth of assembly instructions, he could do little more than stand there and scratch his head.
scratch out: To remove something by scratching
scratch out: To remove something which was written, by erasing or by putting a mark through it
scratch paper: Paper used for preliminary work on a (for example mathematics) problem, considered ephemeral
scratch papers: plural form of scratch paper
scratch sheet: A publication that lists the horses withdrawn from a day's horse races, along with the betting odds and statistics for the horses that are running
scratch team: A team, often brought together on a one-off basis, composed of players who normally play for different sides
scratch that: To disregard, omit, or ignore the previous statement
I'll have eggs and sausage. No, scratch that. I'll have eggs and bacon.
scratch the surface: To barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible
This course only scratches the surface of the subject.
scratch together: To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, with some difficulty
scratch-built: Describing a building built ad hoc, with whatever materials are to hand, and often just from ground level
scratch-built: Describing a structure, e.g. a car, model or toy, built with minimal cost and at short notice, with rudimentary materials
scratch paper: cheap paper, or paper that has already been used on one side, that you use for writing notes = scrap paper
scratch building: The process of building a scale model "from scratch", i.e. from raw materials, rather than building it from a commercial kit, kitbashing or buying it pre-assembled
scratch game: A scratchcard (called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering
scratch off: A scratchcard (called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering
scratch one's head: (deyim) Puzzle, ponder, or wonder about something
scratch the old itch: (deyim) Satisfy the need to sex
scratch ticket: A scratchcard (called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering
scratch-and-win: A scratchcard (called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering
scratch-it: A scratchcard (called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering
scratch a few lines: scribble some lines, jot down a few lines of writing
scratch a ticket: remove a name from a list of candidates
scratch along: manage somehow, make it somehow
scratch awl: chisel, stylus
scratch card: A scratch card is a card with hidden words or symbols on it. You scratch the surface off to reveal the words or symbols and find out if you have won a prize
scratch coat: The first coat in plastering; called also scratchwork
scratch file: A scratch file is a temporary computer file which you use as a work area or as a store while a program is operating
scratch hit: A batted ball that is not squarely struck or cleanly fielded but is counted as a hit
scratch my back and I'll scratch yours: state of mutual dependence, one hand washes the other
scratch of the pen: stroke of the pen, movement of a writing implement
scratch on the face: light wound on the face
scratch one's head: be confused, hesitate due to bewilderment
scratch out: strike or cancel by or as if by rubbing or crossing out; "scratch out my name on that list"
scratch out: strike or cancel by or as if by rubbing or crossing out; "scratch out my name on that list
scratch pad: {i} (term used in Canada & USA) notepad, scratch paper, pad of writing paper
scratch pad: is a British term
scratch pad: pad for preliminary or hasty writing or notes or sketches etc; "scribbling block"
scratch pad: A scratch pad is a temporary storage memory in a computer
scratch paper: extra paper, leftover paper, note paper
scratch player: One that starts from the scratch; hence, one of first-rate ability
scratch race: race in which conditions are equal
scratch race: a race in which all contestant start from scratch (on equal terms)
scratch sheet: A publication listing the horses withdrawn from a day's races and giving information and betting odds on the horses scheduled to race
scratch team: team which has been organized quickly, improvised team
scratch test: A test for allergy performed by scratching the skin and applying an allergen to the wound
scratch test: a test to determine allergic sensitivity to various substances by applying them to scratches in the skin
scratch ticket: A lottery ticket played by scratching or scraping designated areas to reveal information used in determining the card's prize value. Also called scratch card
scratch up: cut the surface of; wear away the surface of
scratch wig: {i} type of short wig that covers only a portion of the head
scratch work: {i} first coat of plaster out of three coats on laths
cat scratch fever: A relatively benign disease, characterized by swollen lymph nodes, caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae normally carried by the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis
chicken scratch: Cramped or illegible handwriting
from scratch: From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation
He had no money and no rich friends, so he had to build his business from scratch.
from scratch: From basic materials or raw ingredients
She was out of pancake mix so she had to make the batter from scratch.
scratched: Produced by scratching
scratched: Simple past tense and past participle of scratch
scratcher: Someone who scratches
scratcher: A piece of equipment used for scratching a part of one's body
scratcher: A bed. (etymology: rhyming slang, rhymes with "scratch your head") usage references: )
start from scratch: To start from a position at (or behind when used with a distance) the usual starting line (the scratch), particularly in races such as running or boating
start from scratch: To create something with the most basic ingredients; to create something without using components or work which has been completed by others
up to scratch: sufficient; adequate; of acceptable or satisfactory quality
They decided that his performance was not up to scratch.
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours: If you do me a favor then I will do you a favor; quid pro quo
scratches: {n} cracked scabs in a horse's foot
be up to scratch: (deyim) Be of an acceptable standard or quality
I'm afraid your last essay wasn't up to scratch.
not to be up to scratch: (deyim) Not be of an acceptable standard or quality
I'm afraid your last essay wasn't up to scratch.
scratcher: A scratchcard (called a scratch off, scratch ticket, scratcher, scratchie, scratch-it, scratch game, scratch-and-win, instant game or instant lottery in different places) is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can be revealed by scratching off an opaque covering
Old Scratch: Old Scratch, like Old Nick, is a nickname for the devil. In the last century it was widely used in the eastern United States, especially in New England, as is evident from the Devil's name for himself in the Stephen Vincent Benét short story "The Devil and Daniel Webster." Now the term has been regionalized to the South. Old Scratch is attested in the Oxford English Dictionary from the 18th century onward in Great Britain as a colloquialism: "He'd have pitched me to Old Scratch" (Anthony Trollope, 1858). The source of the name is probably the Old Norse word skratte, meaning "a wizard, goblin, monster, or devil
cat scratch disease: a disease thought to be transmitted to humans by a scratch from a cat
cat scratch disease: A disease thought to be transmitted to humans by the scratch or bite of a cat and characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes. Also called cat scratch fever
chicken scratch: illegible writing
come up to scratch: meet the minimal requirements of an exam
come up to the scratch: conduct yourself according to what is expected of you; meet the minimal requirements of an exam
from scratch: To make something completely new
from scratch: from the beginning; "he baked the torte from scratch
from scratch: from the beginning; "he baked the torte from scratch"
from scratch: Starting from a piece of land, and building to a completed home Remodeling, demolition, and manufactured homes are not considered to have been built "from Scratch"
get off with a scratch or two: get out of a situation basically unharmed
old scratch: {i} Satan, the Devil
on a scratch: at the time of a test, during a test
scratched: having surface damage
scratcher: any rasorial bird
scratcher: A piece of equipment used for scratching a part of ones body
scratcher: A scratch card
scratcher: a device used for scratching
scratcher: One who, or that which, scratches; specifically Zoöl
scratcher: a workman who uses a tool for scratching
scratcher: a person who scratches to relieve an itch
scratcher: a device used for scratching a person who scratches to relieve an itch a workman who uses a tool for scratching
scratcher: {i} person or thing that scratches
scratches: plural of scratch
scratches: third-person singular of scratch
scratching: Present participle of to scratch
scratching: Though useful, this is not seen very often A blade handle is handed to the rower in front, who then takes strokes with the spoon as close to the hull of the boat as possible This moves the boat sideways (as towards a raft) without much forward or backward movement Only boats with at least four oars can scratch, obviously
scratching: Sound Production and Manipulation
scratching: a harsh noise made by scraping; "the scrape of violin bows distracted her"
scratching: With the action of scratching
scratching: (of a pain) as if caused by scraping with nails or claws
scratching: (v) The process of manually moving a record back and forth against the record needle to create a specific sound effect One of a dee jay's basic tools
scratching: {i} act of scraping; act of making a small cut; act of scraping with the fingernails to relieve an itch; act of making a grating sound; act of scribbling; process of obtaining with difficulty; act of deleting
scratching: mechanical disturbance of a rubbing surface with definite surface roughness in line with motion, but no progressive surface deteriorization due to debris
scratching: Your bird bows its head to you; this translates to: "Please scratch me" The bird pushes you gently with its head still bowed: "Hey, I said scratch me, now!!!"
scratching: Flying low, close to the ground in hope of hooking a thermal Can be dangerous
start from scratch: begin from zero, begin with nothing
started from scratch: had nothing when he began, began without any resources
up to scratch: appropriate, satisfactory
without a scratch: without trouble, without any damage, without causing an abrasion
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours: one hand washes the other, doing a favor for someone so as to receive a favor back from him