scratching
ˈskræʧɪŋ
Definition Synonyms

Definition of scratching - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

1.
actionact of scraping or rubbing with nails or a sharp object
  • The cat's scratching damaged the sofa..
abrading scraping
2.
musicTECH.technique in hip hop music using recordsTECH.
  • The DJ's scratching added flair to the performance.
3.
soundthe act of making a scratch sound
  • The scratching of the pen was loud in the quiet room.
scrape scuff

Adjective

1.
soundproducing a harsh or grating sound
  • The scratching noise from the chalkboard was unbearable.
grating rasping
2.
sensationcausing an itching sensation
  • The scratching fabric made her skin uncomfortable.
irritating itchy prickly
Add a suggestion |

Expressions with scratching

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
tall structure for cats to scratch and stretch
The cat sharpened its claws on the new scratching post..
snack made from deep-fried pork skin
I bought a packet of pork scratching at the pub.
causing confusion or puzzlement
The instructions were head-scratching for most users.

Origin of scratching

Old English, scrat (scratch) + -ing (action)

Terms with scratching included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
skin sensation
unpleasant skin feeling causing scratching
relief
act of scratching to relieve itch
tools
long tool for scratching one's back
itchyadj.
skin
having an unpleasant feeling needing scratching
action
act of removing material by rubbing or scratching
removal
remove or eliminate by scratching or scraping
relief
relieve a physical itch by scratching
repeated action
keep scratching repeatedly for a period of time

Examples of scratching in a sentence

  • Her constant scratching annoyed everyone in the room.
  • Scratching is a skill mastered by few DJs.
  • He practiced scratching to perfect his DJ set.
  • The scratching of the record was annoying.
  • I heard scratching from the attic last night.
  • The scratching sound of the old record player was nostalgic.

View all translations of scratching

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:grattage, grinçant, ...
  2. German:Kratzen, kratzend, ...
  3. Italian:graffio, stridente, ...
  4. Spanish:arañazo, chirriante, ...
  5. Portuguese:arranhão, estridente, ...
  6. Chinese:抓挠, 刺耳的, ...
  7. Japanese:ひっかき, 引っかくような, ...
  8. Arabic:حَكّ, صرير, ...
  9. Hebrew:גִּרוּד, צוֹרֵם, ...
  10. Russian:царапание, скрежещущий, ...
  11. Ukrainian:дряпання, скрипучий, ...
  12. Hindi:खरोंचना, कर्कश, ...
scratch
skrætʃ
scratch: disruption or mark on a surface
Images

Definition of scratch - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

1.
damagedisruption or mark on a surface
  • The table had a scratch on its surface.
blemish gouge nick
2.
medicalminor injury or abrasion
  • She had a scratch on her knee.
abrasion graze
3.
reliefact of scratching to relieve itch
  • He gave his arm a quick scratch.
itching rubbing scraping

Verb

1.
itch relieftr.rub skin with nails to relieve itchingtr.
  • She scratched her arm to stop the itch.
rub scrape
2.
markingtr.mark a surface with a sharp objecttr.
  • He accidentally scratched the table with his keys.
engrave etch score
3.
text removaltr.UKremove text by crossing outtr.UK
  • She scratched out the wrong answer.

Adjective

1.
hastily madeassembled quickly with available materials
  • The scratch team was formed just before the match.
improvised makeshift temporary
2.
sportsTECH.competing without a handicap in sportsTECH.
  • He is a scratch golfer, playing without any handicap.
level
3.
technologyTECH.relating to temporary data storageTECH.
  • The program uses a scratch disk for temporary files.
provisional temporary transient
Add a suggestion |

Images of scratch

  • scratch: disruption or mark on a surface
    disruption or mark on a surface

Expressions with scratch

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
using basic materials or raw ingredients
He baked the cake from scratch.
remove by scraping or rubbing
She scratched off the paint to reveal the wood.
remove or eliminate by scratching or scraping
She decided to scratch out the old address on the envelope..
illegible handwriting
His notes were all in chicken scratch, impossible to read..
small mark or blemish on an object
The car is fine, it's just a scratch.
create something without using pre-made parts
She decided to make the cake from scratch.

Origin of scratch

Old Norse, skrapa (to scratch)

Examples of scratch in a sentence

  • He noticed a scratch on the phone screen.
  • The scratch on his arm was barely noticeable.
  • He got a scratch from the thorny bush.
  • A scratch on his back provided instant relief.
  • She felt better after a gentle scratch.
  • The scratch of the branches was eerie in the night.

View all translations of scratch

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:rayure, gratter, ...
  2. German:Kratzer, kratzen, ...
  3. Italian:graffio, grattare, ...
  4. Spanish:arañazo, rascar, ...
  5. Portuguese:arranhão, coçar, ...
  6. Chinese:划痕, 抓, ...
  7. Japanese:傷, かく, ...
  8. Arabic:خَدْش, حَكَّ, ...
  9. Hebrew:שְׂרִיטָה, לְגַרֵד, ...
  10. Russian:царапина, чесать, ...
  11. Ukrainian:подряпина, чесати, ...
  12. Hindi:खरोंच, रगड़ना, ...
Browse the dictionary entries starting with “s”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery