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Dictionary


scrape



Pronunciation: (skrāp), [key]
—v., scraped, scrap•ing,
—n.

—v.t.
1. to deprive of or free from an outer layer, adhering matter, etc., or to smooth by drawing or rubbing something, esp. 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 fol. by up or together): 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.

—v.i.
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.

—n.
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.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

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