English Dictionary

Definition of “scratchily”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of scratchily

scratchily (ˈskrætʃɪlɪ) 

Definitions

adverb

  1. in a thin and harsh manner

scratch (skrætʃ Pronunciation for scratch ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument
  2. often foll by at, out, off, etc to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc
  3. to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching
  4. to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)
  5. to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape
  6. tr sometimes foll by out to erase by or as if by scraping
  7. tr to write or draw awkwardly
  8. intr sometimes foll by along to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty
  9. to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc
  10. intr (billiards, snooker)
    1. to make a shot resulting in a penalty
    2. to make a lucky shot
  11. tr (US) to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election
  12. intr often foll by for (Australian, informal) to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living
  13. to treat (a subject) superficially

  14. See you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

noun

  1. the act of scratching
  2. a slight injury
  3. a mark made by scratching
  4. a slight grating sound
  5. (in a handicap sport)
    1. a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty
    2. (as modifier) ⇒ a scratch player
  6. the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor
    1. the line from which competitors start in a race
    2. (formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting
  8. a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc
  9. (billiards, snooker)
    1. a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket
    2. a lucky shot
  10. poultry food

  11. See from scratch

  12. See up to scratch

adjective

  1. (sport) (of a team) assembled hastily
  2. (in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty
  3. (informal) rough or haphazard

See also

scratches, scratch together

Derived Forms

ˈscratchy adjective
ˈscratchily adverb
ˈscratchiness noun

Word Origin

C15: via Old French escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German krazzōn (German kratzen); related to Old French gratter to grate1

Example Sentences Including 'scratchily'

If a scratchily educated 12-year-old knows this, why don't we?
Times, Sunday Times (2001)
The photo-works, of course, make no sound, but neither do the film images flickering scratchily on the rainy walls.
Times, Sunday Times (2001)
Then a male voice said scratchily , `It's just me, Dr Campbell.
Skelton, Alison Scott An Older Woman

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