Scratches — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase /ˈskrach/

Meaning & Definition of Scratches

Scratches (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)
  4. to remove (something) from an object or surface by rubbing with a sharp edge or tool
  5. to draw a line through (something that is written down)
  6. to draw a line through (something that is written down)

Scratches (noun)

  1. a mark or injury produced by scratching; also, a slight wound
  2. scrawl, scribble
  3. the sound made by scratching
  4. an illegible or scarcely legible mark intended as handwriting —called also hen scratch

Scratches (phrase)

  1. to accommodate with a favor especially in expectation of like return
  2. to be or become confused or perplexed
  3. to make a modest effort or start

Scratches (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: creaks, grinds, jars, rasps, scrapes
    related: clangors, clangs, clanks, clashes, jangles, scuffs, croaks, gargles, blasts, bleats, brays, screeches

Scratches (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "scratched his arm on a branch"

    similar: abrades, grazes, scrapes, scuffs
    related: barks, skins, chafes, frets, galls, claws, cuts, lacerates, bruises, contuses
    near: polishes, smooths, softens, waxes

  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: grates, grinds, rasps, scrapes
    related: rubs, groans, whines
    near: glides, skates, slides

  3. to write or draw hastily or carelessly

    "scratched a quick doodle in the margins"

    similar: scrawls, scribbles, squiggles
    related: doodles, jots (down), inks, inscribes, letters, pencils, pens, prints, writes

Related Entry: Scratch (noun)

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

  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

Related Entry: Scratch (verb)

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

  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 Scratches. The synonyms below are for scratch (out), not for scratches.

  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: Hen scratches (noun)

Hen scratches is a different word from Scratches. The synonyms below are for hen scratches, not for scratches.

  1. as in scratches, hen tracks

    similar: cacographies, hen tracks, scratches, scrawls, scribbles, hands, handwritings, penmanships, scripts, backhands, copperplates, cursives, prints, running hands, autographs, John Hancocks, John Henrys, signatures

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Scratches

The most common words with a similar meaning to Scratches:

creaks, grinds, jars, rasps, scrapes, abrades, grazes, scuffs, grates, scrawls, scribbles, squiggles

Related Words for Scratches

clangors, clangs, clanks, clashes, jangles, croaks, gargles, blasts, bleats, brays, screeches, barks, skins, chafes, frets, galls, claws, cuts, lacerates, bruises, contuses, rubs, groans, whines, doodles, jots (down), inks, inscribes, letters, pencils

Near Antonyms of Scratches

polishes, smooths, softens, waxes, glides, skates, slides

Word Forms of Scratches

Inflections: scratched, scratching, scratched off, scratching off, scratches off, scratched out, scratching out, scratches out

Derived words: scratcher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Scratches

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

First known use: 15th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Scratches

What does "Scratches" mean?

"Scratches" means to scrape or dig with the claws or nails. As an a verb, a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: to scrape or dig with the claws or nails. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Scratches"?

Other words for "Scratches" include creaks, grinds, jars, rasps, scrapes, abrades, grazes and scuffs. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Scratches" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Scratches"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Scratches". Common alternatives include creaks, grinds, jars, rasps, scrapes, abrades, grazes, scuffs, grates and scrawls.

How do you use "Scratches" in a sentence?

Examples of "Scratches" in a sentence: "the scratch of metal on metal is not a good sound for a car to make"; "scratched his arm on a branch"; "the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows".

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

"Scratches" can be used as a verb, a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Scratches"?

"Scratches" is pronounced /ˈskrach/.

What is the origin of the word "Scratches"?

"Scratches" comes from Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten to scratch and cracchen to scratch. First known use: 15th centuryt.

What is another word for "Scratches" meaning "a harsh grating sound"?

When "Scratches" (noun) means a harsh grating sound, synonyms include creaks, grinds, jars, rasps and scrapes.