English Reference

Word

scrap

US/ˈskɹæp/

UK/skɹˈæp/

Definitions

01a small piece

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small piece or fragment of something, especially paper or cloth.

n. a small, detached, or incomplete portion of a material, typically paper, fabric, or information.

“She wrote her phone number on a scrap of paper she found in her bag.”

“The detective managed to reconstruct the letter from a few charred scraps recovered from the fireplace.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02leftover food

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun

n. small amounts of food that are left over after a meal.

n. discarded or leftover portions of food, often used as animal feed or thrown away.

“We gave the scraps from our dinner to the dog.”

“The restaurant implemented a new composting system to handle the significant volume of food scraps generated during the lunch rush.”

Synonyms

03waste metal

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. old metal or other objects that can be recycled or used for parts.

n. discarded metal or other materials suitable for reprocessing or dismantling.

“He sold his old, broken car for scrap.”

“The industrial site was cleared of rusted machinery and sold to a scrap dealer for a modest profit.”

Synonyms

04a small fight

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. a short, often unplanned fight or argument.

n. a brief, relatively minor physical fight or skirmish.

“The two boys got into a scrap on the playground over a toy.”

“What started as a verbal disagreement quickly escalated into a minor scrap outside the pub.”

Antonyms

05to cancel or discard

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to decide not to continue with a plan or to throw something away.

v. to abandon or discard a project, plan, or object as being no longer useful or viable.

“The company decided to scrap the project because it was too expensive.”

“The government was forced to scrap the controversial housing policy after facing intense pressure from local councils.”

06to fight

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to have a small, physical fight.

v. to engage in a minor physical altercation or scuffle.

“The players were sent off after they started scrapping on the field.”

“The rival fans began scrapping in the parking lot before the police arrived to disperse the crowd.”

Real-World Examples

“I turn the jar under the light, scraps of folded paper trapped in glass.”
The Guardian 23 Aug 2026
“Dressed in a simple tank top, bare-faced with her hair scraped back, Smith is waiting for me when I arrive.”
The Guardian 23 Aug 2026
“On this scrap of paper, she discovers her real name is Bezhig Little Bird.”
The Guardian 18 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English scrappe, from Old Norse skrap, from skrapa (“to scrape, scratch”), from Proto-Germanic skrapōną, skrepaną (“to scrape, scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European skreb-, skrep- (“to engrave”). Cf. Swedish skräp (“garbage”).

Perhaps from the obsolete colloquial meaning "sinister plot, scheme, villainy", or a dialectal variant of scrape.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

scrap(B2)

ADJECTIVE

Related words

Idioms

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference