| / English Dictionary |
SCRATCHING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A harsh noise made by scraping
Example:
the scrape of violin bows distracted her
Synonyms:
scrape; scraping; scratch; scratching
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("scratching" is a kind of...):
noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))
II. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb scratch
Context examples:
Many very respectable people make an honest living out of what are called sensation stories, said Jo, scratching gathers so energetically that a row of little slits followed her pin.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
“What shall you do with him?” said Mr. Dick, feebly, scratching his head.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
There was a sort of scratching or flapping at the window, but I did not mind it, and as I remember no more, I suppose I must then have fallen asleep.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Avoid scratching, wearing irritating fabrics and high heat and humidity.
(Itching, NIH)
However, the term hardness may also refer to resistance to bending, scratching, abrasion or cutting.
(Device Hardness Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)
And, my dear Edmund, added Mrs. Norris, taking out two carriages when one will do, would be trouble for nothing; and, between ourselves, coachman is not very fond of the roads between this and Sotherton: he always complains bitterly of the narrow lanes scratching his carriage, and you know one should not like to have dear Sir Thomas, when he comes home, find all the varnish scratched off.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
There was a fumbling and a scratching of matches, and the sea-lamp flared up, dim and smoky, and in its weird light bare-legged men moved about nursing their bruises and caring for their hurts.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
However, I once caught a young male of three years old, and endeavoured, by all marks of tenderness, to make it quiet; but the little imp fell a squalling, and scratching, and biting with such violence, that I was forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole troop of old ones came about us at the noise, but finding the cub was safe (for away it ran), and my sorrel nag being by, they durst not venture near us.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces, a pin in her ladyship's head dress slightly scratching the child's neck, produced from this pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone by any creature professedly noisy.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
The current study proposes that scratching the skin instigates mast-cell expansion in the intestine.
(Scratching the skin primes the gut for allergic reactions to food, mouse study suggests, National Institutes of Health)
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