ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scraper

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈskɹeɪpɝ// UK //skɹˈeɪpɐ// scrap·er Archaic Informal Slang

n. a tool used to remove something from a surface, like dirt from a window. In computing, it is a program that copies data from a website automatically.

n. an instrument or tool used for removing a substance from a surface; in a technical context, a software application that extracts data from web pages. Informal in the computing sense; often used in the phrase 'web scraper'.


SIMPLE

He used a plastic scraper to remove the old paint from the wall.

CONTEXTUAL

The archaeologist used a small metal scraper to carefully remove the top layer of soil without damaging the bones.

COMPLEX

While a manual scraper might take hours to gather the necessary data, an automated web scraper can extract thousands of records in seconds, provided the site's security protocols are bypassed.

Origin

From scrape + -er.

© 2026 English Reference