Scratching

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scratch \Scratch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scratched}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Scratching}.] [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE.
     scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazz[=o]n, G. kratzen, OD.
     kratsen, kretsen, D. krassen, Sw. kratsa to scrape, kratta to
     rake, to scratch, Dan. kradse to scratch, to scrape, Icel.
     krota to engrave. Cf. {Grate} to rub.]


     1. To rub and tear or mark the surface of with something
        sharp or ragged; to scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by
        drawing something pointed or rough across, as the claws,
        the nails, a pin, or the like.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch
              glass.                                --Grew.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Be mindful, when invention fails,
              To scratch your head, and bite your nails. --Swift.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. "Scratch out a
        pamphlet." --Swift.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To cancel by drawing one or more lines through, as the
        name of a candidate upon a ballot, or of a horse in a
        list; hence, to erase; to efface; -- often with out.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals
        scratch holes, in which they burrow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {To scratch a ticket}, to cancel one or more names of
        candidates on a party ballot; to refuse to vote the party
        ticket in its entirety. [U. S.]
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scratching \Scratch"ing\, adv.
     With the action of scratching.
     [1913 Webster] Scratch player

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  scratching
       adj : (of a pain) as if caused by scraping with nails or claws
       n : a harsh noise made by scraping; "the scrape of violin bows
           distracted her" [syn: {scrape}, {scraping}, {scratch}]