scratch

verb

• 1 [with object] score or mark the surface of (something) with a sharp or pointed object:the car’s paintwork was battered and scratched [no object]:he scratched at a stain on his jacket
• make a long, narrow superficial wound in the skin of:her arms were scratched by the thorns I scratched myself on the tree
• rub (a part of one’s body) with one’s fingernails to relieve itching:Jessica lifted her sunglasses and scratched her nose
• [with object and adverbial] make (a mark or hole) by scoring a surface with a sharp or pointed object:I found two names scratched on one of the windowpanes
• write (something) hurriedly or awkwardly.
• [with object and adverbial] remove (something) from something else by pulling a sharp implement over it:he scratched away the plaster
• [no object] make a rasping or grating noise by scraping something over a hard surface:the dog scratched to be let in (as noun scratching)there was a sound of scratching behind the wall
• [no object] (of a bird or mammal, especially a chicken) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food: the hens cannot do anything that comes naturally to them, such as scratch around
• [no object] (scratch for) search for (someone or something that is hard to locate or find):he’s still scratching around for a woman to share his life
• accomplish (something) with great effort or difficulty:Tabitha wondered how long the woman had been scratching a living on the waterways
• [no object] (scratch along) make a living with difficulty:many architects now scratch along doing loft conversions

• 2 [with object] cancel or strike out (writing) with a pen or pencil:the name of Dr McNab was scratched out and that of Dr Dunstaple substituted
• withdraw (a competitor) from a competition:Jolie’s Halo was scratched from a minor stakes race at Monmouth Park
• [no object] (of a competitor) withdraw from a competition:due to a knee injury she was forced to scratch from the race
• cancel or abandon (an undertaking or project):banks seem prepared to scratch stabilization charges

• 3 [no object] (often as noun scratching) play a record using the scratch technique (sense 2 of the noun): the practices of rap and scratching

noun

• 1a mark or wound made by scratching:the scratches on her arm were throbbing
• [in singular] informal a slight or insignificant wound or injury:it’s nothing—just a scratch
• [in singular] an act or spell of scratching oneself to relieve itching:he gave his scalp a good scratch
• a rasping or grating noise produced by something rubbing against a hard surface:the scratch of a match lighting a cigarette
• [mass noun] a rough hiss, caused by the friction of the stylus in the groove, heard when a record is played.

• 2 [mass noun] 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: [as modifier]:a scratch mix

• 3 [mass noun] (in sport) the starting point in a race for a competitor that is not given a handicap or advantage: a 631-metres handicap, when the excellent stayer, Too Fast, will be off scratch

  [originally denoting a boundary or starting line for sports competitors]
• Golf a handicap of zero, indicating that a player is good enough to achieve par on a course: he plays off scratch in University golf

• 4 [mass noun] informal money:he was working to get some scratch together

adjective

• 1assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality:City were fielding a scratch squad

• 2(of a sports competitor or event) with no handicap given: he was a scratch player at many courses