scratch

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To rub your skin with your nails, often to relieve itching.

   Don't scratch your insect bites!

2. 2
   verb

   To make a thin mark or cut on a surface with something sharp.

   A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.

3. 3
   verb

   To rub the skin in an unpleasant way, causing irritation.

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

4. 4
   noun

   A thin mark or cut left on a surface by something sharp.

   There was a deep scratch along the side of the car.

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.

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