Definition
To rub a rough or sharp edge along a surface, removing a thin layer or making a harsh sound.
Example
She scraped the mud off her boots before going inside.
Show translation
She scraped the mud off her boots before going inside.
Etymology
From Middle English *scrapen*, borrowed from Old Norse *skrapa* ("to scrape, scratch"), from Proto-Germanic *skrapōną*. Related to Dutch *schrapen* and German *schrappen*. The core sense of dragging something abrasive across a surface has remained stable for over 700 years.
Cultural note
Beyond its literal sense, *scrape* appears in several vivid English idioms. To *scrape by* means to barely manage financially ("We scraped by on one salary"). To *scrape the bottom of the barrel* means to use the worst remaining option. A *scrape* as a noun also informally means a difficult or embarrassing situation — "He got into quite a scrape at work." These figurative uses are extremely common in everyday speech.