scratch

CEFRB1

/skɹæt͡ʃ/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To rub a surface with something sharp.

  2. 02

    noun

    A shallow cut or mark on a surface or skin.

Examples

  • Don't scratch your mosquito bite. It'll get inflamed.

  • The cat will scratch you if you provoke it.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.

  2. To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.

  3. To irritate someone's skin with one's unshaven beard when kissing.

More examples

In context

  • A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.

  • I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.

  • Could you please scratch my back?

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The angry cat will blank the wooden floor with its sharp claws.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch.