Scratch — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈskrach/

Meaning & Definition of Scratch

Scratch (verb)

  1. to scrape or dig with the claws or nails
  2. to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged
  3. to scrape or rub lightly (as to relieve itching)

Scratch (noun)

  1. a mark or injury produced by scratching; also, a slight wound
  2. scrawl, scribble
  3. the sound made by scratching

Scratch (adjective)

  1. arranged or put together with little selection, haphazard
  2. made as or used for a tentative effort
  3. made or done by chance and not as intended

Scratch (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a harsh grating sound

    "the scratch of metal on metal is not a good sound for a car to make"

    similar: creak, grind, jar, rasp, scrape
    related: clang, clangor, clank, clash, jangle, scuff, croak, gargle, blast, bleat, bray, screech

  2. something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment

    "she treated her buddies to a drink whenever she had the scratch for it"

    similar: bread (slang), bucks, cabbage (slang), cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, jack (slang), kale (slang), legal tender, lolly (British), long green (slang), loot, lucre, money, moola (slang), needful, pelf, shekels, tender, wampum
    related: coinage, specie, dead presidents (slang), folding money, paper money, scrip, banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note, bill, dollar, greenback, bankroll, capital, finances, funds, roll (slang), wad, wallet, chump change, dibs (slang), dime, mite, peanuts, pittance, shoestring, big bucks, bomb (British), boodle, bundle, earth, fortune, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet (chiefly British), pile, pot, abundance, means, opulence, riches, treasure, wealth, resources, wherewithal, mad money, petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

Scratch (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface

    "scratched his arm on a branch"

    similar: abrade, graze, scrape, scuff
    related: bark, skin, chafe, fret, gall, claw, cut, lacerate, bruise, contuse
    near: polish, smooth, soften, wax

  2. to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface

    "the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows"

    similar: grate, grind, rasp, scrape
    related: rub, groan, whine
    near: glide, skate, slide

  3. to write or draw hastily or carelessly

    "scratched a quick doodle in the margins"

    similar: scrawl, scribble, squiggle
    related: doodle, jot (down), ink, inscribe, letter, pen, pencil, print, write

Related Entry: Scratch (out) (verb)

Scratch (out) is a different word from Scratch. The synonyms below are for scratch (out), not for scratch.

  1. to compose and set down on paper the words of

    "scratched out a poem for his beloved wife on the home front"

    similar: author, pen, scribble, write
    related: cast, compose, craft, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, prepare, recast, redraft, revise, rewrite, letter, print, type, typewrite, record, take down, transcribe, autograph, pencil (in), register, sign, couch, express, phrase, put, word

  2. to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it

    "scratched out the old phone number and wrote in the new one"

    similar: blue-pencil, cancel, cross (out), dele, delete, edit (out), elide, kill, strike (out), stroke (out), x (out)
    related: blot out, efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, obliterate, root (out), rub out, wipe out, bleep, blip, clip, cut, excise, remove, bowdlerize, censor, clean (up), expurgate, launder, redact, red-pencil, abbreviate, crop, shorten, black out, repress, silence, suppress

Related Entry: Scratch pad (noun)

Scratch pad is a different word from Scratch. The synonyms below are for scratch pad, not for scratch.

  1. as in pad, notebook

    similar: notepad, pad, tablet, album, notebook, scrapbook, booklet, pamphlet

Related Entry: Scratch pads (noun)

Scratch pads is a different word from Scratch. The synonyms below are for scratch pads, not for scratch.

  1. as in pads, notebooks

    similar: notepads, pads, tablets, albums, notebooks, scrapbooks, booklets, pamphlets

Related Entry: Hen scratch (noun)

Hen scratch is a different word from Scratch. The synonyms below are for hen scratch, not for scratch.

  1. as in scratch, hen track

    similar: cacography, hen track, scratch, scrawl, scribble, hand, handwriting, penmanship, script, backhand, copperplate, cursive, print, running hand, autograph, John Hancock, John Henry, signature

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Scratch

The most common words with a similar meaning to Scratch:

Slang: bread, cabbage, jack, kale, long green, moola
British: lolly
creak, grind, jar, rasp, scrape, bucks, cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, legal tender, loot, lucre, money, needful, pelf, shekels, tender, wampum, abrade, graze, scuff, grate, scrawl, scribble, squiggle

Related Words for Scratch

clang, clangor, clank, clash, jangle, croak, gargle, blast, bleat, bray, screech, coinage, specie, dead presidents, folding money, paper money, scrip, banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note, bill, dollar, greenback, bankroll, capital, finances

Near Antonyms of Scratch

polish, smooth, soften, wax, glide, skate, slide

Word Forms of Scratch

Inflections: scratched, scratching, scratches

Derived words: scratcher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Scratch

Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten to scratch and cracchen to scratch

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Scratch

Words & Phrases Containing Scratch

scratch hit, scratch one's back, scratch one's head, scratch pad, scratch paper, scratch sheet, scratch test

Frequently Asked Questions about Scratch

What does "Scratch" mean?

"Scratch" means to scrape or dig with the claws or nails. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to scrape or dig with the claws or nails. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Scratch"?

Other words for "Scratch" include creak, grind, jar, rasp, scrape, bread, bucks and cabbage. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Scratch" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Scratch"?

There are 125 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Scratch". Common alternatives include creak, grind, jar, rasp, scrape, bread, bucks, cabbage, cash and change.

What is a slang word for "Scratch"?

Slang words for "Scratch" include bread, cabbage, jack, kale, long green and moola.

How do you use "Scratch" in a sentence?

Examples of "Scratch" in a sentence: "the scratch of metal on metal is not a good sound for a car to make"; "she treated her buddies to a drink whenever she had the scratch for it"; "scratched his arm on a branch".

Is "Scratch" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Scratch" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Scratch" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Scratch" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Scratch"?

"Scratch" is pronounced /ˈskrach/.