scratch /skræ tʃ/ (scratches , scratching , scratched )
1 VERB If you scratch yourself , you rub your fingernails against your skin because it is itching. □ [V pron-refl] He scratched himself under his arm. □ [V n] The old man lifted his cardigan to scratch his side. □ [V ] I had to wear long sleeves to stop myself scratching.
2 VERB If a sharp object scratches someone or something, it makes small shallow cuts on their skin or surface. □ [V n] The branches tore at my jacket and scratched my hands and face. □ [V n] Knives will scratch the worktop.
3 N‑COUNT Scratches on someone or something are small shallow cuts. □ [+ on/to ] The seven-year-old was found crying with scratches on his face and neck.
4 PHRASE If you do something from scratch , you do it without making use of anything that has been done before. □ Building a home from scratch can be both exciting and challenging.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone is scratching their head , you mean that they are thinking hard and trying to solve a problem or puzzle. □ The Institute spends a lot of time scratching its head about how to boost American productivity.
6 PHRASE If you only scratch the surface of a subject or problem, you find out or do a small amount, but not enough to understand or solve it. □ [+ of ] We have barely begun to scratch the surface of the possibilities of new technology. □ We had only two weeks to tour the country, which was hardly enough time to scratch the surface.
7 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is not up to scratch , you mean that they are not good enough. □ My mother always made me feel I wasn't coming up to scratch.
scra tch card (scratch cards ) also scratchcard N‑COUNT A scratch card is a card with hidden words or symbols on it. You scratch the surface off to reveal the words or symbols and find out if you have won a prize.
scra tch file (scratch files ) N‑COUNT A scratch file is a temporary computer file which you use as a work area or as a store while a program is operating. [COMPUTING ]
scra tch pad (scratch pads ) N‑COUNT A scratch pad is a temporary storage memory in a computer. [COMPUTING ]
scratchy /skræ tʃi/
1 ADJ Scratchy sounds are thin and harsh. □ Listening to the scratchy recording, I recognized Walt Whitman immediately.
2 ADJ Scratchy clothes or fabrics are rough and uncomfortable to wear next to your skin. □ Wool is so scratchy that it irritates the skin.
scrawl /skrɔː l/ (scrawls , scrawling , scrawled )
1 VERB If you scrawl something, you write it in a careless and untidy way. □ [V n] He scrawled a hasty note to his daughter. □ [V with quote] Someone had scrawled 'Scum' on his car. □ [V -ed] …racist graffiti scrawled on school walls. [Also V n]
2 N‑VAR You can refer to writing that looks careless and untidy as a scrawl . □ The letter was handwritten, in a hasty, barely decipherable scrawl.
scrawny /skrɔː ni/ (scrawnier , scrawniest ) ADJ If you describe a person or animal as scrawny , you mean that they look unattractive because they are so thin. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a scrawny woman with dyed black hair.
scream ◆◇◇ /skriː m/ (screams , screaming , screamed )
1 VERB When someone screams , they make a very loud, high-pitched cry, for example because they are in pain or are very frightened. □ [V ] Women were screaming; some of the houses nearest the bridge were on fire. □ [V + in ] He staggered around the playground, screaming in agony. ● N‑COUNT Scream is also a noun. □ Hilda let out a scream. □ [+ of ] …screams of terror.
2 VERB If you scream something, you shout it in a loud, high-pitched voice. □ [V with quote] 'Brigid!' she screamed. 'Get up!' □ [V n] They started screaming abuse at us.
3 VERB When something makes a loud, high-pitched noise, you can say that it screams . [WRITTEN ] □ [V ] She slammed the car into gear, the tyres screaming as her foot jammed against the accelerator. □ [V prep/adv] As he talked, an airforce jet screamed over the town. ● N‑COUNT Scream is also a noun. □ [+ of ] There was a scream of brakes from the carriageway outside. COLLOCATIONS scream NOUN 1
adjective + scream : blood-curdling, guttural, high-pitched, piercing; muffled VERB 1
noun + scream : audience, crowd, fans; baby
scream + adverb : loudly, hysterically
scream|ing|ly /skriː m I ŋli/ ADV [ADV adj] If you say that something is, for example, screamingly funny or screamingly boring, you mean that it is extremely funny or extremely boring. [EMPHASIS ] □ …a screamingly funny joke.
scree /skriː / (screes ) N‑VAR Scree is a mass of loose stones on the side of a mountain. □ Occasionally scree fell in a shower of dust and noise.
screech /skriː tʃ/ (screeches , screeching , screeched )
1 VERB If a vehicle screeches somewhere or if its tyres screech , its tyres make an unpleasant high-pitched noise on the road. □ [V prep/adv] A black Mercedes screeched to a halt beside the helicopter. □ [V ] The car wheels screeched as they curved and bounced over the rough broken ground.