| scratch | |
| 1. v. 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? | |
| 2. v. To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation. | |
| I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck. | |
| 3. v. For a man, when kissing someone, to irritate the skin of that person with one's unshaven beard. | |
| 4. v. To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun). | |
| A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass. | |
| 5. v. To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page. | |
| 6. v. Hence, to remove, ignore or delete. | |
| Scratch what I said earlier; I was wrong. | |
| When the favorite was scratched from the race, there was a riot at the betting windows. | |
| 7. v. (music) To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching). | |
| 8. v. (billiards) 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. | |
| 9. v. (billiards, dated, US) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game. | |
| 10. v. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. | |
| 11. v. To dig or excavate with the claws. | |
| Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow. | |
| 12. v. To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure. | |
| The cat scratched the little girl because she was playing with it too hard. | |
| 13. n. A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching. | |
| I can’t believe there is a scratch in the paint already. | |
| Her skin was covered with tiny scratches. | |
| 14. n. An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation. | |
| The dog sat up and had a good scratch. | |
| 15. n. sports | |
| 16. n. A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing. | |
| 17. n. 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 th | |
| 18. n. (cycling) The last riders to depart in a handicap race. | |
| 19. n. (billiards) An aberration. | |
| 20. n. # A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table. | |
| 21. n. # (archaic, US, slang) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. | |
| 22. n. (slang) Money. | |
| 23. n. A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens. | |
| 24. n. (in the plural) 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. | |
| 25. n. A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head. | |
| 26. n. (music) A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi. | |
| 27. adj. For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work. | |
| This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it. | |
| 28. adj. Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation | |
| 29. adj. (computing, from scratchpad) Relating to a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use. | |
| 30. adj. (sports) (of a player) 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. | |
