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Scrape for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: skreɪp

What does Scrape really mean?

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Scrape is a word that is used to describe the action of rubbing or dragging something along a surface with force, which often results in removing a small layer of that surface or creating a harsh sound. Let me break it down for you in a way that makes it super easy to understand and remember.

Imagine you are walking on the beach, and you see a beautiful seashell half-buried in the sand. Now, let's say you want to pick it up, but it's stuck in the sand tightly. So, what do you do? You may decide to use your fingers, a stick, or even a shovel to scrape away the sand covering the seashell. When you scrape, you are applying force and moving whatever tool you're using back and forth to remove the sand that is hiding the seashell. Just like that, you are scraping away the sand to reveal the treasure underneath!

But scraping is not only limited to sand and seashells. We use the word "scrape" whenever we talk about scratching a surface or removing something by dragging a tool or an object across it. For example, have you ever accidentally scraped the bottom of a plate with your fork? Remember that awful sound it makes? Well, that is the sound of the fork dragging against the plate and removing a tiny bit of the plate's surface. When we scrape something, we can often hear or feel that unpleasant sensation, like nails on a chalkboard or a sharp knife cutting through a piece of paper.

Now, let's explore one more meaning of the word "scrape" to make sure we cover all the bases. Sometimes, we also use this word to describe a situation where someone barely manages to achieve or avoid something difficult. It's as if they just barely "scraped by." Imagine a cat trying to squeeze through a narrow door opening. It might have to wiggle its body and barely scrape through to make it to the other side. In the same way, when we say someone "scraped by" in a certain situation, it means they just managed to succeed or avoid failure by a very narrow margin.

So, to sum it up, "scrape" means to rub or drag something forcefully along a surface, often removing a thin layer or producing a harsh sound. It can also describe a situation where someone barely manages to achieve or avoid something difficult.

Revised and Fact checked by Robert Jones on 2023-10-30 01:27:15

Scrape In a sentece

Learn how to use Scrape inside a sentece

  • When you accidentally hit your knee on the table and your skin gets scratched, you might get a scrape.
  • If you accidentally trip and fall on the concrete, you might scrape your hands and knees.
  • If you drop a glass on the floor and it shatters, you will need to be careful not to step on any sharp pieces, as they can scrape your feet.
  • Sometimes when you ride your bike really fast and try to turn sharply, you might lose your balance and scrape your elbow if you fall down.
  • When you're helping your parents in the kitchen and you accidentally scrape a knife against the cutting board, it makes a loud noise.