1 a : to rub your skin with something sharp (such as your fingernails) especially in order to stop an itch [+ obj] ▪ Will you scratch my back for me? ▪ Scratching the itch only makes it worse. ▪ The dog scratched its ear. —sometimes used figuratively ▪ Maybe it's time to scratch the/that itch to travel I've had since I was a kid. [=maybe it's time to satisfy the urge I've had to travel] [no obj] ▪ You shouldn't scratch. It'll just make your itch worse. —see also scratch someone's back (below) b : to make a shallow and narrow cut in (your skin) with something sharp (such as fingernails, claws, etc.) [+ obj] ▪ The cat scratched me. ▪ Thorns scratched our legs as we climbed through the briars. [no obj] ▪ Careful, the cat will scratch. c [no obj] : to rub a surface or object with something sharp or rough in a way that produces a harsh sound ▪ The dog was scratching at the door.
2 [+ obj] a : to make a line or mark in the surface of (something) by rubbing or cutting it with something rough or sharp ▪ Be careful not to scratch the table. ▪ Someone scratched the paint on my car. b : to make (something, such as a line or letters) in the surface of something by using a stick, a sharp tool, etc. ▪ The little boy scratched lines in the dirt with a stick. ▪ They scratched their initials in the old bridge. c : to write (something) in a quick and untidy way ▪ She scratched a note to herself on a napkin.
3 [+ obj] informal a : to decide not to do or continue with (something) ▪ We had to scratch our picnic plans because of the weather. ▪ We should go to the movies tonight. No, scratch [=forget] that. Let's rent a DVD instead. b : to remove (someone) from the list of players who will be playing in a game ▪ She was scratched from the starting lineup.