scratch paper

1 2.2

A piece of paper used for quick notes or rough calculations

noun

: papel de borrador

When I opened my door, Henry was standing on my front step with a piece of scratch paper and a tape dispenser.
a piece of scratch paper
a sheet of scratch paper

Examples

I often jot down quick calculations on scratch paper while solving math problems.
She used a large-print calculator and scratch paper to solve the problems.

Academic text (2010)
- If I have some scratch paper, I can figure it out.

The House (2017)
I use a lot of scratch paper at work while working on problems.

Blog text (31)
The board is our collective scratch paper.

Fiction book (2000)
Pencils and scratch paper were provided for the participants.

Academic text (2014)
There, on the gray Formica table, lay my smeary blue ballpoint pen, three-holed loose-leaf papers, my story, and the scratch paper on which I'd listed various kinds of blue.

Fiction book (2001)
During the meeting, he used scratch paper to take notes on the key points discussed.
She always keeps a pad of scratch paper nearby for brainstorming her ideas.

Synonyms

piece of paper

vsscratch paper

180 1.0

A single flat sheet used for writing or printing

is similar in being single sheet but emphasizes rough temporary use

tablet

vsscratch paper

50 1.8

A flat pad of paper used for writing or drawing

is specifically about quick, throwaway notes rather than durable inscription

pad of paper

vsscratch paper

5 1.0

A set of paper sheets joined at one edge for writing or drawing

is more about quick, informal temporary notes than regular use

notepaper

vsscratch paper

2 1.0

Small sheets of paper for short notes or letters

is rougher and more for calculations or sketches than brief letters

scratch pad

vsscratch paper

1 2.3

A small pad of blank paper for quick notes and sketches

leans more toward very temporary, casual single use rather than a book

writing pad

vsscratch paper

1 1.1

A pad of paper for making notes or short messages

is less for formal notes and more for rough, temporary jottings

scribbling block

vsscratch paper

4.9

A pad of paper for quick notes and sketches

is similar but often refers to loose single sheets for brief work

scratchpad

vsscratch paper

3.5

A small notebook for writing quick notes or doing math

is used more often on loose sheets for quick temporary work

How Temporary

piece of paper

180 1.0

scratch paper

1 2.2

writing pad

1 1.1

notepad

18 1.0

notebook

187 1.0

Surface Forms

scratch paper singular

scratch papers plural

Morphology

scratch + paper

The meaning 'paper used for quick notes or rough work' is directly derivable from combining 'scratch' (a scribble or rough mark) with 'paper' (sheets for writing). This literal noun–noun composition follows a common, cross-linguistically transparent pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand the MWE.

Etymology

The noun scratch paper comes from the idea of quickly making rough scratches on paper while you work out ideas or numbers. So, it now means 'paper for quick, rough notes'.