Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Scrape?

\Scrape\ (skr[=a]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scraped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scraping}.] [Icel. skrapa; akin to Sw. skrapa, Dan. skrabe, D. schrapen, schrabben, G. schrappen, and prob. to E. sharp.] 1. To rub over the surface of (something) with a sharp or rough instrument; to rub over with something that roughens by removing portions of the surface; to grate harshly over; to abrade; to make even, or bring to a required condition or form, by moving the sharp edge of an instrument breadthwise over the surface with pressure, cutting away excesses and superfluous parts; to make smooth or clean; as, to scrape a bone with a knife; to scrape a metal plate to an even surface. 2. To remove by rubbing or scraping (in the sense above). I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. --Ezek. xxvi. 4. 3. To collect by, or as by, a process of scraping; to gather in small portions by laborious effort; hence, to acquire avariciously and save penuriously; -- often followed by together or up; as, to scrape money together. The prelatical party complained that, to swell a number the nonconformists did not choose, but scrape, subscribers. --Fuller. 4. To express disapprobation of, as a play, or to silence, as a speaker, by drawing the feet back and forth upon the floor; -- usually with down. --Macaulay. {To scrape acquaintance}, to seek acquaintance otherwise than by an introduction. --Farquhar. He tried to scrape acquaintance with her, but failed ignominiously. --G. W. Cable.
\Scrape\, v. i. 1. To rub over the surface of anything with something which roughens or removes it, or which smooths or cleans it; to rub harshly and noisily along. 2. To occupy one's self with getting laboriously; as, he scraped and saved until he became rich. ``[Spend] their scraping fathers' gold.'' --Shak. 3. To play awkwardly and inharmoniously on a violin or like instrument. 4. To draw back the right foot along the ground or floor when making a bow.
\Scrape\, n. 1. The act of scraping; also, the effect of scraping, as a scratch, or a harsh sound; as, a noisy scrape on the floor; a scrape of a pen. 2. A drawing back of the right foot when bowing; also, a bow made with that accompaniment. --H. Spencer. 3. A disagreeable and embarrassing predicament out of which one can not get without undergoing, as it were, a painful rubbing or scraping; a perplexity; a difficulty. The too eager pursuit of this his old enemy through thick and thin has led him into many of these scrapes. --Bp. Warburton.