scrape
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scrape/skreɪp/
▶verb
- 1 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).
- 2 rub or cause to rub against a rough or hard surface.
■ humorous play a violin tunelessly.
- 3 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.
- 1 an act or sound of scraping.
■ an injury or mark caused by scraping.
■ Brit. a thinly applied layer of butter or margarine on bread.
- 2 informal an embarrassing or difficult predicament.
- 3 archaic an obsequious bow in which one foot is drawn backwards along the ground.
– phrases
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.
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.
– derivatives
scraper noun,
scraping adjective & noun.
scraper noun,
scraping adjective & noun.
– origin OE scrapian ‘scratch with the fingernails’, of Gmc origin, reinforced in ME by ON skrapa or MDu. schrapen ‘to scratch’.
'scrape' also found in these Oxford entries:

