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1. with object score or mark the surface of (something) with a sharp or pointed object:

(爪などで)〈体(の一部)･虫の刺し傷〉をかく

e.g. the car's paintwork was battered and scratched

〈人が〉(かゆい所を)爪などでかく; 〈動物などが〉 【物を】(ガリガリと)引っかく, 引っかき傷を付ける «at»

e.g. no object : he scratched at a stain on his jacket.

make a long, narrow superficial wound in the skin of:

(爪･鋭い物で)〈物･体の一部〉に引っかき傷を付ける; (傷になるくらい)〈人〉を引っかく; (鋭い物が)〈物･体の一部〉に引っかき傷を付ける;

〖～ A on B〗 B〈とがった物〉でA〈体(の一部)〉に引っかき傷を付ける(up)

e.g. her arms were scratched by the thorns

e.g. I scratched myself on the tree.

rub (a part of one's body) with one's fingernails to relieve itching:

e.g. Jessica lifted her sunglasses and scratched her nose.

make (a mark or hole) by scoring a surface with a sharp or pointed object:

e.g. I found two names scratched on one of the windowpanes.

write (something) hurriedly or awkwardly:

〈名前など〉を刻み込む; 走り書きする.

e.g. pass me my writing things—I'll scratch a few letters before I get up.

remove (something) from something else by pulling a sharp implement over it:

〖～ A＋副詞〗 A〈物〉を引っかいて取り除く (!〖副詞〗は分離の表現)

e.g. he scratched away the plaster.

no object make a rasping or grating noise by scraping something over a hard surface:

e.g. the dog scratched to be let in

e.g. (as noun scratching) : there was a sound of scratching behind the wall.

no object (of a bird or mammal, especially a chicken) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food.

accomplish (something) with great effort or difficulty:

scratch out a living: かろうじて生計を立てる

e.g. he scratches out a living growing strawberries.

2. with object cancel or strike out (writing) with a pen or pencil:

〈名前など〉を線を引いて消す, 抹消する(out).

e.g. the name of Dr. McNab was scratched out and that of Dr. Daniels substituted.

withdraw (a competitor) from a competition:

【競技･レースから】〈競技者･出走馬など〉を辞退させる, 棄権させる, おろす «from» (!しばしば受け身で) .

e.g. Oswald's Zephyr was the second horse to be scratched from a race today.

no object (of a competitor) withdraw from a competition:

【競馬･競技の】出場を辞退する; 【選挙の】立候補を取り下げる «from» .

e.g. due to a knee injury she was forced to scratch from the race.

cancel or abandon (an undertaking or project):

〈計画など〉を中止する, やめる

e.g. the original filming schedule has been scratched.

3. no object (often as noun scratching) play a record using the scratch technique. scratch (sense 1 of the noun)

〘楽〙 スクラッチ(scratching)〘回転しているレコードをDJが手で操作して作り出す音, またその音楽〙

1. a mark or wound made by scratching:

引っかき傷

e.g. the scratches on her arm were throbbing

e.g. as modifier : scratch marks on the door.

in singular informal a slight or insignificant wound or injury:

かすり傷

e.g. it's nothing—just a scratch.

in singular an act or spell of scratching oneself to relieve itching:

｟主に英｠ ; 〖a ～〗 (かゆい所を)爪でかくこと

e.g. he gave his scalp a good scratch.

a rasping or grating noise produced by something rubbing against a hard surface:

〖単数形で〗(ペン･レコードなどの不快な)きしる音.

e.g. the scratch of a match lighting a cigarette.

a rough hiss, caused by the friction of the stylus in the groove, heard when a record is played.

2. a technique, used especially in rap music, of stopping a record by hand and moving it back and forth to give a rhythmic scratching effect.

〘楽〙 スクラッチ(scratching)〘回転しているレコードをDJが手で操作して作り出す音, またその音楽〙

3. the starting point in a handicap for a competitor receiving no odds. originally denoting a boundary or starting line for sports competitors.

Golf a handicap of zero, indicating that a player is good enough to achieve par on a course.

4. informal money:

｟米俗｠ 金（きん）

e.g. he was working to get some scratch together.

adjective attributive

1. assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality:

寄せ集めの, にわか作りの

e.g. at least two vessels set sail with scratch crews.

2. (of a sports competitor or event) with no handicap given.

〘スポーツ〙 ハンディなしの〈選手･試合など〉

from the very beginning, especially without utilizing or relying on any previous work for assistance: he built his own computer company from scratch.

used to suggest that an investigation of someone or something soon reveals their true nature: he had been taught to believe “scratch a pious man and find a hypocrite.”.

scratch one's head informal

think hard in order to find a solution to something.

feel or express bewilderment.

1. deal with a matter only in the most superficial way: research has only scratched the surface of the paranormal.

2. initiate the briefest investigation to discover something concealed: they have a boring image but scratch the surface and it's fascinating.

up to the required standard; satisfactory: her German was not up to scratch.

proverb if you do me a favor, I'll return it.

scratcher noun

late Middle English: probably a blend of the synonymous dialect words scrat and cratch, both of uncertain origin; compare with Middle Low German kratsen and Old High German krazzōn.