Scratch: meaning, definitions and examples

A light, superficial mark or injury on the skin or surface. Mostly unintentional and not serious.

• She had a small scratch on her arm after playing with the cat.
• He scratched his head in confusion.

A general term for any visible trace or spot, not necessarily an injury or damage.

• There was a dark mark on the wall where the picture used to hang.
• He noticed a mark on his shirt after spilling coffee.

A more serious injury involving damage to the body, often requiring medical treatment. Can be deeper or more severe than a cut.

• The soldier had a deep wound on his leg from the battle.
• She was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound.

Caused by rubbing or dragging something roughly across a surface, can cause shallow but widespread damage.

• She scraped her knee when she fell off her bike.
• The car got a scrape on the door from the parking lot post.

A break or incision in the skin or surface, usually sharper and potentially deeper than a scratch. Often requires attention or treatment.

• She got a cut on her finger while chopping vegetables.
• The paper gave him a small cut on his hand.

An area damaged by scraping or wearing away, often used in medical or technical contexts.

• The athlete had several abrasions on his knees after falling on the track.
• The abrasion on the metal surface made it difficult to paint.

Already defined. Used for minor cuts on skin, making marks on surfaces, and starting over.

• Don't scratch the mosquito bite, it will get worse.
• He scratched the paint off the wall.

Refers to rubbing or brushing something roughly, often resulting in removal of surface material or causing minor damage.

• He scraped the ice off his car windshield.
• She fell and scraped her knee.

Used when indicating a spot, score, or level of importance. It can be used in a wide range of contexts from education to general life.

• The teacher marked all the students' tests.
• Please mark your calendars for the upcoming event.

Used when carving a design or words into a hard surface with a tool, usually to create a lasting impression.

• The artist took hours to etch the design onto the metal plate.
• Their names were etched into the stone.

Used when stopping an event, booking, or arrangement from taking place. This word is common in formal settings and planning.

• The meeting was canceled due to the bad weather.
• They had to cancel their vacation plans.

Commonly used in the context of removing text, files, or data from a digital device or medium.

• Make sure to save your work before you delete that file.
• She accidentally deleted an important email.