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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Scratch \Scratch\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Scratched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scratching}.] [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE. scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazz[=o]n, G. kratzen, OD. kratsen, kretsen, D. krassen, Sw. kratsa to scrape, kratta to rake, to scratch, Dan. kradse to scratch, to scrape, Icel. krota to engrave. Cf. {Grate} to rub.]
1. To rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or ragged; to scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across, as the claws, the nails, a pin, or the like.
Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch glass. --Grew.
Be mindful, when invention fails, To scratch your head, and bite your nails. --Swift.
2. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. ''Scratch out a pamphlet.'' --Swift.
3. To cancel by drawing one or more lines through, as the name of a candidate upon a ballot, or of a horse in a list; hence, to erase; to efface; -- often with out.
4. To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.
{To scratch a ticket}, to cancel one or more names of candidates on a party ballot; to refuse to vote the party ticket in its entirety. [U. S.]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Scratching \Scratch"ing\, adverb With the action of scratching.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
scratching
adjective: (of a pain) as if caused by scraping with nails or claws
noun: a harsh noise made by scraping; "the scrape of violin bows distracted her" [syn: {scrape}, {scraping}, {scratch}]
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |