Scrape Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms scrape American [skreyp] / skreɪp /

verb (used with object)

scraped, scraping

1. to deprive of or free from an outer layer, adhering matter, etc., or to smooth by drawing or rubbing something, especially a sharp or rough instrument, over the surface.

   to scrape a table to remove paint and varnish.

2. to remove (an outer layer, adhering matter, etc.) in this way.

   to scrape the paint and varnish from a table.

3. to scratch, injure, or mar the surface of in this way.

   to scrape one's arm on a rough wall.

4. to produce by scraping.

   He scraped his initials on the rock.

5. to collect or do by or as if by scraping; do or gather laboriously or with difficulty (usually followed by up ortogether ).

   They managed to scrape together a football team.

6. to rub harshly on or across (something).

   Don't scrape the floor with your boots!

7. to draw or rub (a thing) roughly across something.

   Scrape your shoes on the doormat before you come in.

8. to level (an unpaved road) with a grader.

9. Digital Technology. to extract (data) from a digital source for automated replication, formatting, or manipulation by a computer program, as in data mining or website data analysis.

   This project scrapes comments on online forums for linguistic research.

   We can scrape older data from obsolete systems with a very simple interface.

verb (used without object)

scraped, scraping

1. to scrape something.

2. to rub against something gratingly.

3. to produce a grating and unmusical tone from a string instrument.

4. to draw one's foot back noisily along the ground in making a bow.

5. to manage or get by with difficulty or with only the barest margin.

   I barely scraped through on the test.

6. to economize or save by attention to even the slightest amounts.

   By careful scraping they managed to survive.

   Synonyms: pinch, stint, scrimp

noun

1. an act or instance of scraping.

2. a drawing back of the foot noisily along the ground in making a bow.

3. a harsh, shrill, or scratching sound made by scraping.

4. a scraped place.

   a scrape on one's elbow.

5. an embarrassing or distressing situation; predicament.

   He is always in some kind of a scrape.

6. a difference of opinion, fight, or quarrel; scrap.

7. Digital Technology.

   1. the process of extracting data from a digital source for automated replication, formatting, or manipulation by a computer program, as in data mining or website data analysis.

      How long will the scrape take to complete?

   2. the product of this process.

      The scrape maliciously copied private content to manipulate search engine rankings.

scrape British / skreɪp /

verb

1. to move (a rough or sharp object) across (a surface), esp to smooth or clean

2. (tr; often foll by away or off) to remove (a layer) by rubbing

3. to produce a harsh or grating sound by rubbing against (an instrument, surface, etc)

4. (tr) to injure or damage by rough contact

   to scrape one's knee

5. (intr) to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and scrape )

6. (intr) to draw the foot backwards in making a bow

7. (tr) to finish (a surface) by use of a scraper

8. (tr) to make (a bearing, etc) fit by scraping

9. to behave with excessive humility

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

1. the act of scraping

2. a scraped place

3. a harsh or grating sound

4. informal an awkward or embarrassing predicament

5. informal a conflict or struggle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 scrape Idioms

1. see (scrape the) bottom of the barrel; bow and scrape; scare (scrape) up.

Other Word Forms

• scrapable adjective
• scrapeage noun
• scraper noun
• unscraped adjective

Etymology

Origin of scrape

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb scrapen, from Old Norse skrapa (replacing Middle English shrapen Old English scrapian “to scratch”); cognate with Old Norse skrapa; noun derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By working part-time jobs, Takaichi scraped together the money to attend Kobe University, where she studied business administration and played in a heavy-metal band.

From The Wall Street Journal

Along with pugmarks, the team looks for other signs, including scrapes and scent‑marking spots, before carefully fixing a camera to a rock along the trail.

From BBC

“If you let me help,” Bat said, bargaining now, “I’ll promise to scrape all the extra food off my plate from now on and put it in the dishwasher after dinner.”

From Literature

Pa calmly scraped away at his stick of wood.

From Literature

Though the thorns had scraped her wings, they were leathery and too tough to be easily pierced.

From Literature

Related Words

• clean
• grind
• rub
• shave

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.