| 释义 |
scratch
I. \ˈskrach\ verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
Etymology: blend of scrat (I) and obsolete English cratch to scratch; obsolete English cratch from Middle English cracchen, probably from Middle Dutch cratsen to scratch, scrape; akin to Old High German krazzōn to scratch, Old Swedish kratta to scratch, Albanian gërrüej I scratch
transitive verb
1. : to scrape with the claws or nails
< scratched out the eyes of the owl — Ben Jonson >
2. : to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged : scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across
< hard enough to scratch glass >
< legs scratched by the briers >
3. : to scrape or rub lightly with something pointed or rough in order to relieve itching
< took turns scratching each other's backs >
or as a gesture indicating perplexity or hesitation
< thoughtfully scratching his jaw >
< scratched his head in bewilderment >
4.
a. : to dig or heap with the claws
b. : to scrape (as money) together
5.
a. : to make shallow cuts on the surface of
< scratched his boot soles to prevent slipping >
— often used with up
< the table was all scratched up by the movers >
b. : to write or draw (as letters, figures) on a surface by such cuts
< scratched a map on the wet sand >
< scratched his initials on the silver cover >
c. : to cultivate lightly : make shallow furrows in
6.
a. : to cancel by drawing a line through
b. : to obliterate with repeated strokes of the pen — used with out
c. obsolete : to expel or bar from a club
d. : to withdraw (an entry) from competition
< his horse was scratched in the third race >
e. : to mark (a ballot) so as to vote for most of the candidates of one party but for some belonging to another party
7. : to write or draw hastily or roughly : scribble
< scratched a note >
< scratched his signature >
8. : scratchbrush
< scratch a casting >
9. : to scrape along a rough surface
< scratch a match >
10. : to spur (a horse) by keeping the feet moving in a kicking motion alternately forward and backward
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to use the claws in digging, tearing, or wounding
< that cat will scratch >
b. : to find or make one's way or one's living
< turned out at an early age to scratch for themselves >
2. : to rub oneself with something pointed or rough to relieve itching
3. : to gather money or get a living by hard work and saving
4. : to make a thin grating sound
< this pen scratches >
< the dog was scratching lightly at the door >
5.
a. : to withdraw from a contest after one's name is listed
b. : to fail to keep a social engagement
6. : to scratch the name of a candidate on the ticket of one's party or faction : split the ticket
7.
a. : to make a scratch in billiards or pool
b. : to score by a scratch
•
- scratch one's back
- scratch the surface
II. noun
(-es)
1. : a mark or injury produced by scratching : a slight wound
< came through the battle without a scratch >
2. scratches plural but singular or plural in construction : grease heel in its early stages
3. : a line or furrow that is made in a surface by rasping or rubbing with a pointed or jagged object
< her ring left a scratch on the polished table top >
< a million years, a mere scratch on the surface of earth's time — W.E.Swinton >
4. : a written scrawl : scribble
5. : a short wig
6. : the sound made by scratching
< scratch of a pencil >
especially : noise caused by the friction of a phonograph needle on the surface of a record
7.
a. : the line from which contestants start in a race
b. : nothing, zero
< two whole towns have had to be built almost from scratch — Kent Strong >
< task of organizing a major institution of learning almost from scratch — William DuBois >
8.
a. : a line formerly drawn across a prize ring that a contestant had to approach to begin or continue the fight
b. : a trial or test of courage
< imagine myself wanting at the scratch — Henry James †1916 >
c. : satisfactory physical condition or standard of performance
< bulls … that are not up to scratch as to size — Farmer's Weekly (South Africa) >
< her acting was right up to scratch >
< bringing him up to fighting scratch — H.J.Laski >
9. : the starting time or station or initial score of a competitor who neither is allowed odds nor receives a penalty
10. : a contestant (as a horse or dog) whose name has been withdrawn from a race in which it was entered
< a list of late scratches >
11. also scratch feed : a poultry feed (as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground especially to induce birds to exercise
12.
a. : a shot in billiards or pool that fails to comply with some requirement of the game and involves loss of the player's turn; specifically : a pocketing of the cue ball without touching the object ball
b. : a shot that scores by accident : fluke
c. : scratch hit
13. slang : money
III. adjective
1. : made as or used for a tentative effort
< scratch map >
2. : made or done by chance and not in the way intended
< scratch shot >
3. : arranged or put together with little selection of material : haphazard
< scratch meal >
< scratch team >
4. : made up of heterogeneous elements insufficient to be representative
< scratch vote >
5. of a contest or a contestant : being without handicap or allowance
< scratch golfer >
< one of the scratch boats in a handicap race >
6. : canceled
IV. intransitive verb
: to produce a rhythmic scratching sound by moving a phonograph record back and forth under a phonograph needle
< he cuts and scratches, spinning records, giving the crowd something other than the bass to feel — Danyel Smith >
V. adjective
: made from scratch : made with basic ingredients |