scratch

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch. === Pronunciation === enPR: skrăch, IPA(key): /skɹæt͡ʃ/ Rhymes: -ætʃ === Verb === scratch (third-person singular simple present scratches, present participle scratching, simple past and past participle scratched) To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc. Synonym: scrabble To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching. To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing. To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun). (of a surface) To get such scratches. To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page. Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete. (music) To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching). (billiards) To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table. (billiards, dated, US) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl. (ambitransitive) To dig or excavate with the claws. To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure. (swimming, athletics) To announce one's non-participation in a race or sports event part of a larger sports meeting that one was previously signed up for, usually in lieu of another event at the same meeting. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === scratch (countable and uncountable, plural scratches) A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching. An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation. (sports) A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing. 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 throw, shot put, and similar. Originally the starting mark was a scratch on the ground but is now a board or precisely indicated mark. (cycling) The last riders to depart in a handicap race. (billiards) An aberration. A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table. (archaic, US, slang) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. (horse racing) A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start. (meiosis) A minor injury. (slang) Money; especially, cash. A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens. Synonym: chicken scratch (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. (now historical) A scratch wig. 1775, Frances Burney, Journals & Letters, Penguin 2001, 26 March: [H]e turned to him with a dejected Face, and said ‘ – pray Sir, – could you touch up This a little?’ taking hold of his frightful scratch. (music) A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi. Poor handwriting; especially, illegibly so. Synonyms: chicken scratch, scrawl Nothing, zero. Used especially in card games or sports, but also expressions like "from scratch". ==== Synonyms ==== (Virgin Islander music): fungi, quelbe ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === scratch (not comparable) For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work. Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation (computing) Relating to a scratchpad, a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use. scratch memory (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. ==== Derived terms ==== scratch pad scratch paper scratch sheet scratch tape === References === Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “scratch”, in Online Etymology Dictionary. The Jargon File - Scratch == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from English scratch. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /skʁatʃ/ === Noun === scratch m (plural scratchs) Velcro Synonym: velcro === Further reading === “scratch”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Italian == === Etymology === Borrowed from English scratch. === Noun === scratch m (invariable) (music) scratch == Polish == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English scratch. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈskrɛt͡ʂ/ Rhymes: -ɛt͡ʂ Syllabification: scratch Homophone: skrecz === Noun === scratch m inan (cycling, music, tennis) alternative spelling of skrecz ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “scratch”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎[5] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN “scratch”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[6] (in Polish) == Spanish == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English scratch. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /esˈkɾat͡ʃ/ [esˈkɾat͡ʃ] Rhymes: -atʃ === Noun === scratch m (plural scratchs) (music) scratch ==== Usage notes ==== According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.