HOW TO PRONOUNCE
scratch
/skɹætʃ/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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Begin with s-k-r as one cluster.
Keep all three opening consonants together before the vowel in cat. The ending is the ch sound in chair; no extra vowel belongs before the initial s.
1 syllable
TRY SAYING
“The branch left a scratch on the door.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does scratch mean?
verb
- To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
- 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.
More meanings (33)
verb
- To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
- To get such scratches.
- To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
- Hence, to remove, ignore, or delete.
- To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).
- To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
- To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.
- 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.
- 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.
- (dated) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
noun
- A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.
- An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.
- 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.
- The last riders to depart in a handicap race.
- A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
- A horse withdrawn from a race prior to the start.
- A minor injury.
- (slang) Money; especially, cash.
- A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.
- 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.
- A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi.
- Poor handwriting; especially, illegibly so.
- Nothing, zero. Used especially in card games or sports, but also expressions like "from scratch".
- (archaic, slang) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.
- (historical) A scratch wig.
adjective
- 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
- Relating to a scratchpad, a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.
- (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.
proper noun
- A free educational visual programming language and a programming site developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.
- A surname.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/skɹætʃ/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
And Gunto, summoned, says that Tana is lazy and will not bring him nuts and beetles, or scratch his back for him.
“That’s a pity, now, Josh,” said Raffles, affecting to scratch his head and wrinkle his brows upward as if he were nonplussed.
More book examples (3)
And if I can catch her I'll pinch her and scratch her And send her away with a flea in her ear.
Now and again one would lazily lift a flipper to scratch itself or heave its great bulk into a more comfortable position.
Another useful word adopted from the unknown is "seliko," which means to kill, shoot, break, bend, scratch, destroy or any kindred thought.