scrape

UK: /ˈskreɪp/ US: /skreɪp/ ,(skrāp)

Inflections of 'scrape' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

scrapes

v 3rd person singular

scraping

v pres p

scraped

v past

scraped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrape /skreɪp/   v., scraped, scrap•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to rub (a surface) with something rough, so as to clean or smooth it:
   [~ + object] to scrape a table to remove varnish.
2. to remove (paint, etc.) by rubbing with something rough or sharp:
   [~ + object] to scrape the paint from the table.
3. to scratch or injure by brushing against something rough or sharp:
   [~ + object] I scraped my knee when I fell.
4. to rub roughly on (something), esp. so as to produce a harsh sound: [~ + object]
   scraped the floor with his chair.
   [no object]
   The chair scraped on the floor.
5. to collect with difficulty: [~ + up/together + object]
   Can you scrape up enough money for college?
   [~ + object + up/together]
   She scraped enough money together for college.
6. scrape by or through, to manage with difficulty: [no object]
   The struggling family could barely scrape by.
   [~ + by/through + object]
   I barely scraped through the course with a D.

n. [countable]

7. an act or instance of scraping.
8. a harsh sound made by scraping:
   the scrape of chairs.
9. a scraped place:
   a bad scrape on the arm.
10. an embarrassing or difficult situation.
11. a fight or quarrel;
    scrap.

scrap•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrape  (skrāp), v., scraped, scrap•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to deprive of or free from an outer layer, adhering matter, etc., or to smooth by drawing or rubbing something, esp. a sharp or rough instrument, over the surface:
   to scrape a table to remove paint and varnish.
2. to remove (an outer layer, adhering matter, etc.) in this way:
   to scrape the paint and varnish from a table.
3. to scratch, injure, or mar the surface of in this way:
   to scrape one's arm on a rough wall.
4. to produce by scraping:
   He scraped his initials on the rock.
5. to collect or do by or as if by scraping;
   do or gather laboriously or with difficulty (usually fol. by up or together):
   They managed to scrape together a football team.
6. to rub harshly on or across (something):
   Don't scrape the floor with your boots!
7. to draw or rub (a thing) roughly across something:
   Scrape your shoes on the doormat before you come in.
8. Civil Engineering to level (an unpaved road) with a grader.

v.i. 

9. to scrape something.
10. to rub against something gratingly.
11. to produce a grating and unmusical tone from a string instrument.
12. to draw one's foot back noisily along the ground in making a bow.
13. to manage or get by with difficulty or with only the barest margin:
    I barely scraped through on the test.
14. to economize or save by attention to even the slightest amounts:
    By careful scraping they managed to survive.

n. 

15. an act or instance of scraping.
16. a drawing back of the foot noisily along the ground in making a bow.
17. a harsh, shrill, or scratching sound made by scraping.
18. a scraped place:
    a scrape on one's elbow.
19. an embarrassing or distressing situation;
    predicament:
    He is always in some kind of a scrape.
20. a difference of opinion, fight, or quarrel;
    scrap.

• Old Norse skrapa; replacing Middle English shrapen, Old English scrapian to scratch (cognate with Old Norse skrapa); (noun, nominal) late Middle English: scraper, derivative of the verb, verbal
• (verb, verbal) Middle English scrapen bef. 1000

scrap′a•ble, adj. 
scrape′age, n. 
Synonyms

• 14. scrimp, stint, pinch.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scrape / skreɪp/ verb

1. to move (a rough or sharp object) across (a surface), esp to smooth or clean
2. (tr; often followed by away or off) to remove (a layer) by rubbing
3. to produce a harsh or grating sound by rubbing against (an instrument, surface, etc)
4. (transitive) to injure or damage by rough contact: to scrape one's knee
5. (intransitive) to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and scrape)
6. (intransitive) to draw the foot backwards in making a bow

noun

1. the act of scraping
2. a scraped place
3. a harsh or grating sound
4. an awkward or embarrassing predicament
5. a conflict or struggle

Etymology: Old English scrapian; related to Old Norse skrapa, Middle Dutch schrapen, Middle High German schraffen

ˈscraper noun