scrape Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a harsh noise made by scraping
    scratching; scraping; scratch.
    • the scrape of violin bows distracted her
  2. noun an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off
    abrasion; excoriation; scratch.
  3. noun a deep bow with the foot drawn backwards (indicating excessive humility)
    scraping.
    • all that bowing and scraping did not impress him
  4. noun an indication of damage
    scratch; scar; mark.
  5. verb scratch repeatedly
    grate.
    • The cat scraped at the armchair
  6. verb make by scraping
    • They scraped a letter into the stone
  7. verb cut the surface of; wear away the surface of
    scratch; scratch up.
  8. verb bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
    genuflect; kowtow.
  9. verb gather (money or other resources) together over time
    scrape up; come up; scratch.
    • She had scraped together enough money for college
    • they scratched a meager living
  10. verb bruise, cut, or injure the skin or the surface of
    skin.
    • The boy skinned his knee when he fell

WordNet

Scrape transitive verb
Etymology
Icel. skrapa; akin to Sw. skrapa, Dan. skrabe, D. schrapen, schrabben, G. schrappen, and prob. to E. sharp.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scraped ; present participle & verbal noun Scraping
Definitions
  1. To rub over the surface of (something) with a sharp or rough instrument; to rub over with something that roughens by removing portions of the surface; to grate harshly over; to abrade; to make even, or bring to a required condition or form, by moving the sharp edge of an instrument breadthwise over the surface with pressure, cutting away excesses and superfluous parts; to make smooth or clean; as, to scrape a bone with a knife; to scrape a metal plate to an even surface.
  2. To remove by rubbing or scraping (in the sense above).
    I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. Ezek. xxvi. 4.
  3. To collect by, or as by, a process of scraping; to gather in small portions by laborius effort; hence, to acquire avariciously and save penuriously; -- often followed by together or up; as, to scrape money together.
    The prelatical party complained that, to swell a number the nonconformists did not choose, but scrape, subscribers. Fuller.
  4. To express disapprobation of, as a play, or to silence, as a speaker, by drawing the feet back and forth upon the floor; -- usually with down. Macaulay. Farquhar.
    He tried to scrape acquaintance with her, but failed ignominiously. G. W. Cable.
Scrape intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To rub over the surface of anything with something which roughens or removes it, or which smooths or cleans it; to rub harshly and noisily along.
  2. To occupy one's self with getting laboriously; as, he scraped and saved until he became rich.
    "[Spend] their scraping fathers' gold." Shak.
  3. To play awkwardly and inharmoniously on a violin or like instrument.
  4. To draw back the right foot along the ground or floor when making a bow.
Scrape noun
Definitions
  1. The act of scraping; also, the effect of scraping, as a scratch, or a harsh sound; as, a noisy scrape on the floor; a scrape of a pen.
  2. A drawing back of the right foot when bowing; also, a bow made with that accompaniment. H. Spencer.
  3. A disagreable and embrassing predicament, as it were, a painful rubbing or scraping; a perplexity; a difficulty.
    The too eager pursuit of this his old enemy through thick and thin has led him into many of these scrapes. Bp. Warburton.

Webster 1913