scratch (n.)

  1. an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off

    [ Syn: abrasion , scrape , excoriation ]

  2. an indication of damage

    [ Syn: scrape , scar , mark ]

  3. a depression scratched or carved into a surface

    [ Syn: incision , prick , slit , dent ]

  4. informal terms for money

    [ Syn: boodle , bread , cabbage , clams , dinero , dough , gelt , kale , lettuce , lolly , lucre , loot , moolah , pelf , shekels , simoleons , sugar , wampum ]

  5. a competitor who has withdrawn from competition

  6. a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game

    [ Syn: start , starting line , scratch line ]

  7. dry mash for poultry

    [ Syn: chicken feed ]

  8. a harsh noise made by scraping; the scrape of violin bows distracted her

    [ Syn: scrape , scraping , scratching ]

  9. poor handwriting

    [ Syn: scribble , scrawl , cacography ]

  10. (golf) a handicap of zero strokes; a golfer who plays at scratch should be able to achieve par on a course'

    scratch (v.)

  1. cause friction; my sweater scratches

    [ Syn: rub , fray , fret , chafe ]

  2. cut the surface of; wear away the surface of

    [ Syn: scrape , scratch up ]

  3. scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; Dont scratch your insect bites!

    [ Syn: rub , itch ]

  4. postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled; Call off the engagement; cancel the dinner party; we had to scrub our vacation plans; scratch that meeting--the chair is ill

    [ Syn: cancel , call off , scrub ]

  5. remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line; Please strike this remark from the record; scratch that remark

    [ Syn: strike , expunge , excise ]

  6. gather (money or other resources) together over time; She had scraped together enough money for college; they scratched a meager living

    [ Syn: scrape , scrape up , come up ]

  7. carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface; engrave a pen; engraved the trophy cupt with the winners; the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree

    [ Syn: engrave , grave , inscribe ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.