v.
- drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object).
▸use a sharp or hard implement to remove (dirt or unwanted matter).
- rub or cause to rub against a rough or hard surface.
▸humorous play a violin tunelessly.
- just manage to achieve, succeed, or pass.
▸
(scrape something together/up)
collect or accumulate something with difficulty.
▸try to save as much money as possible; economize.
▸
(scrape by/along)
manage to live with difficulty.
n.
- an act or sound of scraping.
▸an injury or mark caused by scraping.
▸Brit. a thinly applied layer of butter or margarine on bread.
- informal an embarrassing or difficult predicament.
- archaic an obsequious bow in which one foot is drawn backwards along the ground.
Phrase
- scrape acquaintance with
dated contrive to get to know. - scrape the barrel
(or the bottom of the barrel)
informal be reduced to using the last and poorest resources.
Derivative
- scraper n.
- scraping adj. & n.
Etymology
OE scrapian ‘scratch with the fingernails’, of Gmc origin, reinforced in ME by ON skrapa or MDu. schrapen ‘to scratch’.