verb / noun

scrape

SKRAYP/skreɪp/

Friction from dragging across a surface.

She scrapes peeling paint from a wooden board with a metal scraper.

A woman scrapes peeling paint from a wooden board with a broad metal scraper; curled paint flakes gather at the blade, and a freshly exposed strip of wood makes the removal visible.

Etymology

scrapeMiddle Englishto erase with a knife

Scrapen originally described erasing with a knife. Its meaning extended to removing an outer layer with a sharp or rough tool, and then to rubbing a surface harshly.

In context

Top Homeowner4:33

once you do that you should be able to remove most of it now you're still going to have some residue left over that you're probably going to have to scrape on a bit

The Complete Guide to Re-Caulking Your Bathroom

More examples

The scrape on my knee stings when I wash it.
I hear the scrape of a chair dragged across the floor.
We scrape by on one income while I finish school.

Forms

scrape · scrapes · scraped · scraping

scraper noun — A tool for scraping material off surfaces.

Similar words

rub: Emphasizes contact and movement without necessarily damaging or removing material.
scratch: Usually leaves narrow marks made by something sharp or pointed.
abrade: Specifically means wearing a surface away through friction.