What is scratch? Pronunciation and usage in English

scratch means . Learn how to pronounce and use scratch through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of scratch

scratchverb

/skratʃ/
Definition & pronunciation of scratch

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "scratch" in English. There are two common pronunciations, and it's helpful to know both!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • ˈstrætʃ (rhymes with "hat")
    • ˈstr - Say the "str" sound like in "street."
    • æt - This is a tricky one! It's a very short "a" sound, like in "cat" but slightly shorter and more open. It's almost like you're saying "ah" quickly.
    • ʃ - This is the "sh" sound, as in "ship."

2. The British English Pronunciation:

  • ˈstrɑtʃ (rhymes with "batch")
    • ˈstr - Same as American English: "str" like in "street."
    • ɑ - This is a broad "a" sound, like in "father" or "car." It's a longer, more rounded vowel sound.
    • tʃ - This is the "ch" sound, as in "church."

Here's a quick way to remember:

  • American: Think of "hat."
  • British: Think of "batch."

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you learning English? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) Knowing your region will help me give you the most relevant pronunciation.

Usage and examples with the word scratch in English

The word "scratch" has a surprising number of uses in English! Here's a breakdown of how to use it, categorized for clarity:

1. Physical Scratching (Most Common)

  • Definition: To rub or scrape the skin with something rough, causing irritation or pain.
  • Examples:
    • "I got a scratch on my arm when I fell."
    • "She scratched her nose."
    • "He scratched his head in confusion."
    • "The cat scratched the sofa."

2. Marking on a Surface (Like Paper or Wood)

  • Definition: To make a mark on something, usually with a pen, pencil, or fingernail.
  • Examples:
    • "He scratched a note on a piece of paper."
    • "She scratched a map with her finger."
    • "Please don’t scratch the table!"

3. Figurative – To Suggest or Propose (Informal)

  • Definition: To lightly suggest an idea or point. Often used in a hesitant or roundabout way. It implies a quick, improvisational thought.
  • Examples:
    • "I just scratched the surface of the problem – there’s so much more to it." (Meaning: I only briefly touched on the problem.)
    • "He scratched at an idea but didn’t develop it further." (Meaning: He briefly considered it, but didn’t fully explore it.)
    • "She scratched her chin thoughtfully." (Meaning: She was idly considering something.)

4. Music – To Correct Errors on a Recording

  • Definition: To make a temporary correction on a recording, usually by re-recording a small section. Think of it like fixing a mistake quickly.
  • Examples:
    • "The engineer had to scratch the vocal track and redo it."
    • "We scratched out the wrong phrase and replaced it."

5. Slang – To Quickly Find Something (Often in a Computer Context)

  • Definition: (Informal, primarily computer-related) To quickly find a file or item on a computer.
  • Example: "I had to scratch around in the folder to find the document." (Meaning: I searched around for a while.)

6. To Struggle or Effort (Less Common, but still used)

  • Definition: To work hard or try to achieve something, often with difficulty.
  • Example: "He was scratching to make ends meet." (Meaning: He was struggling financially.) – This usage is increasingly rare, and “struggling” is often a better choice.

Here's a table summarizing the different meanings:

Meaning Type Example
Physical Scratching Physical "I got a scratch on my knee."
Marking Physical "He scratched his name on the wall."
Figurative Suggestion Figurative "I just scratched the surface of the topic."
Music Correction Music "The producer scratched the wrong note."
Slang - Finding Slang "I had to scratch around for the file."
Struggle Figurative "He was scratching to feed his family."

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to use the word "scratch"? (e.g., "I want to describe a scrape," "I'm writing a song," "I'm talking about ideas.")

Synonyms for the word scratch

Idioms of the word scratch

scratch your head (over something)
to think hard in order to find an answer to something
  • Experts have been scratching their heads over the increase in teenage crime.
scratch the surface (of something)
to deal with, understand, or find out about only a small part of a subject or problem
  • We left feeling that we had just scratched the surface of this fascinating country.
  • The investigation barely scratched the surface of the city's drug problem.
you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
(saying)used to say that if somebody helps you, you will help them, even if this is unfair to others

    Practice with vocabulary scratch

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The ancient artifact bore a faint ______ that indicated previous damage.
    2. The startup had to develop its software platform entirely from ______ without relying on existing templates.
    3. The recent policy change had a profound ______ on the company's financial stability.
    4. After the accident, the technician discovered a minor ______ on the car door, but it was not deep enough to require extensive repair.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. The board decided to ______ the ambitious new product launch from the immediate development pipeline due to unforeseen technical challenges. a) withdraw b) accelerate c) scratch d) integrate

    2. The laboratory equipment manual warns against any ______ on the optical lens that could impair its function. a) abrasion b) fingerprint c) scratch d) smudge

    3. The software development team chose to build the new application ______ to ensure it met all current security standards. a) from scratch b) from the ground up c) with existing modules d) by adapting previous code

    4. Effective communication is crucial for reaching a consensus ______ complex project requirements. a) about b) on c) with d) for

    5. During the audit, financial analysts must ______ every transaction to identify any discrepancies. a) overlook b) scrutinize c) expedite d) simplify

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Original: "They had to develop the entire project from the very beginning because no existing framework was suitable." Rewrite: They had to develop the entire project from ______ because no existing framework was suitable.

    2. Original: "The editor decided to remove that paragraph from the article as it was redundant." Rewrite: The editor decided to ______ that paragraph from the article as it was redundant.

    3. Original: "The initial findings only touched upon the complexity of the problem, indicating much more research was needed." Rewrite: The initial findings only ______ the complexity of the problem, indicating much more research was needed.

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. scratch
    2. scratch
    3. impact
    4. scrape

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. a) withdraw, c) scratch
    2. a) abrasion, c) scratch
    3. a) from scratch, b) from the ground up
    4. a) about, b) on
    5. b) scrutinize

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. They had to develop the entire project from scratch because no existing framework was suitable.
    2. The editor decided to scratch that paragraph from the article as it was redundant.
    3. The initial findings only skimmed the complexity of the problem, indicating much more research was needed.

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