n.

1. an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off;
   abrasion, scrape, excoriation
2. a depression scratched or carved into a surface;
   incision, prick, slit, dent
3. informal terms for money;
   boodle, bread, cabbage, clams, dinero, dough, gelt, kale, lettuce, lolly, lucre, loot, moolah, pelf, shekels, simoleons, sugar, wampum
4. dry mash for poultry;
   chicken feed
5. a harsh noise made by scraping;
   scrape, scraping, scratching
   
   • the scrape of violin bows distracted her
6. poor handwriting;
   scribble, scrawl, cacography
7. an indication of damage;
   scrape, scar, mark

v.

1. cause friction;
   rub, fray, fret, chafe
   
   • my sweater scratches
2. cut the surface of; wear away the surface of;
   scrape, scratch up
3. scrape or rub as if to relieve itching;
   rub, itch
   
   • Don't scratch your insect bites!
4. postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled;
   cancel, call off, scrub
   
   • Call off the engagement
   • cancel the dinner party
   • we had to scrub our vacation plans
   • scratch that meeting--the chair is ill
5. remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line;
   strike, expunge, excise
   
   • Please strike this remark from the record
   • scratch that remark
6. gather (money or other resources) together over time;
   scrape, scrape up, come up
   
   • She had scraped together enough money for college
   • they scratched a meager living
7. carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface;
   engrave, grave, inscribe
   
   • engrave a pen
   • engraved the winner's name onto the trophy cup
   • the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree