Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old Norse
Origin: skrapa

scrape

1 verb
     
Related topics: Illness and Disability
scrape1
1 [transitive] to remove something from a surface using the edge of a knife, a stick etc:
Scrape the carrots and slice them thinly.
scrape something away/off
The earth was scraped away to uncover a trap door.
scrape something off/into etc something
Teresa scraped the mud off her boots.
The two of them scraped their dishes clean.
2 [intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition]MI to rub against a rough surface in a way that causes slight damage or injury, or to make something do this [↪ graze]:
The coat was too long; the hem scraped the pavement.
scrape against/on etc
I heard the side of the car scrape against the wall.
scrape something against/on something
I scraped my knee painfully on the concrete.
3 [intransitive and transitive] to make a noise by rubbing roughly against a surface:
Chairs scraped loudly as they stood up.
scrape (something) on/down/against something
He opened the gate quietly, trying not to let it scrape on the gravel.
4

scrape home

especially British English to win a race, election, or competition by a very small amount:
The Tories may scrape home, but it's unlikely.
5

scrape (the bottom of) the barrel

informal to have to use something even though it is not very good, because there is nothing better available:
It was clear that the party was scraping the barrel for competent politicians.

➔ bow and scrape

at bow1 (5)

; ➔ scrape/scratch a living

at living2 (1)

scrape something ↔ back

phrasal verb
if you scrape your hair back, you pull it away from your face and tie it at the back:
Her blonde hair was scraped back into a ponytail.

scrape by

phrasal verb
1 to have just enough money to live:
We can scrape by, thanks to what we grow ourselves.
2SE to only just succeed in passing an examination or dealing with a difficult situation

scrape in

phrasal verb
to only just succeed in getting a job, a place at university, a position in government etc:
Labour scraped in by a small majority.
He just scraped into college.

scrape through (something)

phrasal verb
to only just succeed in passing an examination or dealing with a difficult situation:
I managed to scrape through the exam.

scrape something ↔ together/up

phrasal verb
to get enough money for a particular purpose, when this is difficult:
She scraped together the last of her savings.
They could hardly scrape up enough money for the train fare.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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