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scratch

scratch

203 1.6
A thin shallow mark on skin or a surface made by something sharp
  • noun
  • /skrætʃ/
translation icon : arañazo
  • Later, by what little moonlight remained, she cataloged five types of scratch marks on his shoulders and back.
  • bite or scratch
  • a cat scratch

Babe, where'd you get these scratches from a ghost?

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Examples

  • And it looks like these little scratches have been designed for decoration.

  • The ceiling was full of scratches made by bats who once lived there.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I just got a little scratch on my neck and I broke my arm.

  • Whole time I was over there, not a scratch, not a mark, you know?

  • How did you manage to avoid a single scratch?

  • Compared to that, this is just a scratch!

  • My gloves were on fire, but everything else... not a scratch.

  • Right below her ear on her neck is a scratch from his big old paw.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Nana moves deep into the patch and Noah follows, prickles leaving scratch marks on his arms.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She had a small scratch on her arm after brushing against the fence.

Synonyms

mark
vsscratch
468 1.0

A visible line, spot, scratch, or stain on a surface

is specifically a thin scraped or scored line or shallow wound
abrasion
vsscratch
41 4.8

An area of skin rubbed off by scraping

is a thin mark or shallow wound caused by scraping, less worn away
scrape
vsscratch
30 1.3

A mark on a surface caused by rubbing it against something hard

is a thin mark or shallow wound made by scoring with something sharp
blemish
vsscratch
15 3.9

A small mark that spoils the look of skin or an object

is a narrow scraped mark or shallow wound, not a general flaw
scuff
vsscratch
8 2.6

A scratch or mark made when one thing rubs another

is a thin scored line or shallow wound made by something sharp
prick
vsscratch
7 6.3

A small mark or dent on a surface used as a guide

is a shallow score or wound produced by scraping with something sharp
incision
vsscratch
2 5.7

A narrow cut an artist makes on a surface to show a design

is a shallow surface score or minor wound rather than a deep cut
cat scratch
vsscratch
1 1.0

A small cut on the skin from a cat's claws

is a thin mark or shallow wound not limited to that animal cause
scritch
vsscratch
1 8.8

A small light mark made when something rubs a surface like skin or wood

is a thinner or sharper line made by scraping with something sharp
excoriation
vsscratch
9.3

A scrape where the skin has been rubbed away

is a shallow surface score or minor wound rather than an extensive loss
Knicks
vsscratch
5.0

Small cuts or chips in a surface from use

are thin surface scores or shallow wounds made by scraping, not chips

Antonyms

97 3.7

A thing that has no mistakes and shows the best quality

1 2.6

How something works without pauses or problems

Idioms

98 2.8

To make something using nothing already made

11 2.7

Not hurt or damaged after a dangerous event

Touch or rub your head to show you do not understand something

Good enough to meet a required standard

Leave a dangerous situation without getting hurt

To look below the surface to find the real reasons

To help when needed, especially in a difficult situation

A saying that some people who call themselves liberal may show authoritarian views when challenged

4.3

Satisfy a strong wish you cannot ignore

To do something that solves a problem you have

Compounds

chicken scratch
  • Informal
3 8.4

Messy handwriting that is hard to read

1 1.0

A small cut on the skin from a cat's claws

scratch test
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A simple test that finds allergies by putting small drops on tiny cuts in the skin

1 4.8

A line that shows where people start a race

1 2.3

A small pad of blank paper for quick notes and sketches

1 2.2

A piece of paper used for quick notes or rough calculations

cat scratch disease
  • Specialized
3.4

An infection from a cat scratch or bite that makes nearby glands swell and is usually mild

scratch awl
  • Specialized
7.9

A small tool with a sharp point that marks wood or metal before cutting

scratch race
  • Specialized
5.5

A race where all competitors start together with no handicaps

scratch sheet
  • Jargon
9.9

A paper that lists horses, race results and betting odds

scratch plough
  • Archaic
8.8

A simple light farm tool that loosens the top of the soil without turning it over

How Deep

gash
30 3.9
cut
337 1.0
scratch
203 1.6
nick
200 3.6

Surface Forms

scratch singular
scratches plural

Etymology

Scratch comes from a very old word meaning 'to scrape' or make a small mark, just like the common word scrape. So a scratch is a thin cut or mark made by scraping, which is why we use the word for a small wound or mark.