Scuff (verb)
To scrape the feet while walking.
Scuff (verb)
To hit lightly, to brush against.
Scuff (verb)
To mishit (a shot on a ball) due to poor contact with the ball.
Scuff (noun)
A mark left by scuffing or scraping.
“Someone left scuff marks in the sand.”
Scratch (verb)
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?”
Scratch (verb)
To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation.
“I don’t like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.”
Scratch (verb)
To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
“A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.”
Scratch (verb)
To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
Scratch (verb)
For a man, when kissing someone, to irritate the skin of that person with one’s unshaven beard.
Scratch (verb)
To produce a distinctive sound on a scratching).
Scratch (verb)
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.”
Scratch (verb)
To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
Scratch (verb)
To write or draw hastily or awkwardly.
Scratch (verb)
To dig or excavate with the claws.
“Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.”
Scratch (verb)
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.”
Scratch (noun)
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.”
Scratch (noun)
An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.
“The dog sat up and had a good scratch.”
Scratch (noun)
Money.
Scratch (noun)
A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.
Scratch (noun)
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.
Scratch (noun)
A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
Scratch (noun)
A genre of Virgin Islander music, better known as fungi.
Scratch (adjective)
For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work.
“This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.”
Scratch (adjective)
Hastily assembled, arranged or constructed, from whatever materials are to hand, with little or no preparation
Scratch (adjective)
Relating to a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.
Scratch (adjective)
(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.
Scratch (verb)
score or mark the surface of (something) with a sharp or pointed object
“he scratched at a stain on his jacket”
“the car’s paintwork was battered and scratched”
Scratch (verb)
make a long, narrow superficial wound in the skin of
“her arms were scratched by the thorns”
“I scratched myself on the tree”
Scratch (verb)
rub (a part of one’s body) with one’s fingernails to relieve itching
“Jessica lifted her sunglasses and scratched her nose”
Scratch (verb)
make (a mark or hole) by scoring a surface with a sharp or pointed object
“I found two names scratched on one of the windowpanes”
Scratch (verb)
write (something) hurriedly or awkwardly.
Scratch (verb)
remove (something) from something else by pulling a sharp implement over it
“he scratched away the plaster”
Scratch (verb)
make a rasping or grating noise by scraping something over a hard surface
“the dog scratched to be let in”
Scratch (verb)
(of a bird or mammal, especially a chicken) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food
“the hens cannot do anything that comes naturally to them, such as scratch around”
Scratch (verb)
search for (someone or something that is hard to locate or find)
“he’s still scratching around for a woman to share his life”
Scratch (verb)
accomplish (something) with great effort or difficulty
“Tabitha wondered how long the woman had been scratching a living on the waterways”
Scratch (verb)
make a living with difficulty
“many architects now scratch along doing loft conversions”
Scratch (verb)
cancel or strike out (writing) with a pen or pencil
“the name of Dr McNab was scratched out and that of Dr Dunstaple substituted”
Scratch (verb)
withdraw (a competitor) from a competition
“Jolie’s Halo was scratched from a minor stakes race at Monmouth Park”
Scratch (verb)
(of a competitor) withdraw from a competition
“due to a knee injury she was forced to scratch from the race”
Scratch (verb)
cancel or abandon (an undertaking or project)
“banks seem prepared to scratch stabilization charges”
Scratch (verb)
play a record using the scratch technique.
“he raps and scratches simultaneously to dazzling effect”
Scratch (noun)
a mark or wound made by scratching
“the scratches on her arm were throbbing”
Scratch (noun)
a slight or insignificant wound or injury
“it’s nothing—just a scratch”
Scratch (noun)
an act or spell of scratching oneself to relieve itching
“he gave his scalp a good scratch”
Scratch (noun)
a rasping or grating noise produced by something rubbing against a hard surface
“the scratch of a match lighting a cigarette”
Scratch (noun)
a rough hiss, caused by the friction of the stylus in the groove, heard when a record is played.
Scratch (noun)
a technique, used especially in rap music, of stopping a record by hand and moving it back and forwards to give a rhythmic scratching effect
“a scratch mix”
Scratch (noun)
(in sport) the starting point in a race for a competitor that is not given a handicap or advantage
“a 631-metres handicap, when the excellent stayer, Too Fast, will be off scratch”
Scratch (noun)
a handicap of zero, indicating that a player is good enough to achieve par on a course
“he plays off scratch in University golf”
Scratch (noun)
money
“he was working to get some scratch together”
Scratch (adjective)
assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality
“City were fielding a scratch squad”
Scratch (adjective)
(of a sports competitor or event) with no handicap given
“he was a scratch player at many courses”