scratch

You make a thin mark or shallow cut on something with a sharp object.

• Do not scratch the table.
• The cat scratched my hand.
• Her keys had scratched the paint on the door.

Similar words: scrape

Common phrases: scratch the surface, scratch a car, scratch something

You rub your skin with your nails because it feels itchy.

• Please do not scratch that bite.
• He scratched his itchy arm.
• The dog was scratching behind its ear.

Similar words: scrabble

Common phrases: scratch your head, scratch an itch, scratch your back

Rough material rubs against your skin and makes it feel uncomfortable or itchy.

• This wool scratches my skin.
• The rough collar scratched his neck all day.
• Does that blanket scratch your legs?

Similar words: irritate

Common phrases: scratch your skin, scratch your neck, scratch someone

A surface gets thin marks easily when something sharp rubs against it.

• This plastic scratches easily.
• The polished surface scratched during transport.
• Will this coating scratch if I clean it?

Similar words: get scratched

Common phrases: scratch easily, scratch over time

A thin mark or shallow cut left when something sharp rubs against a surface.

• There is a scratch on the door.
• My glasses have several scratches.
• The cat left a long scratch on my arm.

How to use it: a scratch on something (I noticed a scratch on the screen.)

Similar words: mark, scrape

Common phrases: a deep scratch, scratch on something, a small scratch

The starting point before any work has been done or any prepared materials have been used.

• We made the soup from scratch.
• She built her business from scratch.
• After losing the file, I had to start from scratch.

How to use it: from scratch (He learned to make bread from scratch.)

Common phrases: from scratch, start from scratch, make from scratch

A very small injury that is not serious.

• Do not worry; it is just a scratch.
• She escaped the crash without a scratch.
• He survived the fall with barely a scratch.

Similar words: minor injury

Common phrases: just a scratch, without a scratch, barely a scratch

An act of rubbing your skin with your nails to stop an itchy feeling.

• The dog had a good scratch.
• He gave his itchy arm a quick scratch.
• A scratch behind the ears soon calmed the cat.

Common phrases: a good scratch, a quick scratch, have a scratch