English Reference
Noun

scraper

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈskɹeɪpɝ/ UK /skɹˈeɪpɐ/ scrap·er UK spelling scrapers Archaeology Computing

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.


From scrape + -er.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated