scratch
UK: skrætʃ | US: skrætʃ
v. to rub or scrape lightly with claws, nails, or fingers
v. to cancel or eliminate something (e.g., a plan)
n. a mark or wound made by scratching
n. (informal) a rough or hasty drawing or note
The word "scratch" originated from Middle English scracchen, likely an alteration of scratten (to scratch), influenced by the sound of scraping. The morpheme scrat echoes the action of scraping, while the suffix -ch (as in "clutch" or "itch") suggests repetitive motion. The word’s evolution reflects its onomatopoeic roots, mimicking the sound of sharp contact with a surface.
The cat loves to scratch the sofa.
He decided to scratch the idea and start over.
There’s a deep scratch on my phone screen.
She made a quick scratch note in her notebook.
Don’t scratch the mosquito bite—it’ll get worse.