Unscramble scratches

Definition of scratch

noun:

• an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off. Synonyms: abrasion, excoriation, scrape.
• a depression scratched or carved into a surface. Synonyms: dent, incision, prick, slit.
• informal terms for money. Synonyms: boodle, bread, cabbage, clams, dinero, dough, gelt, kale, lettuce, lolly, loot, lucre, moolah, pelf, shekels, simoleons, sugar, wampum.
• a competitor who has withdrawn from competition.
• a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game. Synonyms: scratch line, start, starting line.
• dry mash for poultry. Synonyms: chicken feed.
• a harsh noise made by scraping; "the scrape of violin bows distracted her". Synonyms: scrape, scraping, scratching.
• poor handwriting. Synonyms: cacography, scrawl, scribble.
• (golf) a handicap of zero strokes; "a golfer who plays at scratch should be able to achieve par on a course".
• an indication of damage. Synonyms: mark, scar, scrape.

verb:

• cause friction; "my sweater scratches". Synonyms: chafe, fray, fret, rub.
• cut the surface of; wear away the surface of. Synonyms: scrape, scratch up.
• scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; "Don't scratch your insect bites!". Synonyms: itch, rub.
• 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". Synonyms: call off, cancel, scrub.
• remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line; "Please strike this remark from the record", "scratch that remark". Synonyms: excise, expunge, strike.
• gather (money or other resources) together over time; "She had scraped together enough money for college", "they scratched a meager living". Synonyms: come up, scrape, scrape up.
• carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface; "engrave a pen", "engraved the trophy cupt with the winner's", "the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree". Synonyms: engrave, grave, inscribe.

Related words

character, claw, graze, score, scotch, scuff, squiggle.

Words nearby

scranch, scratchy.

Rhymes with

attach, batch, catch, detach, dispatch, hatch, kach, latch, match, mismatch, patch, rematch, snatch, thatch.