scratch
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈskɹætʃ// UK //skɹˈætʃ// scratch
n. a small cut or mark on a surface made by something sharp. It can also mean the act of rubbing your skin with your nails because it feels itchy.
n. a mark, flaw, or shallow injury on a surface produced by a sharp or jagged object. Also refers to the act of relieving an itch through tactile friction.
There is a small scratch on the side of my car.
The cat left a deep scratch on the wooden table while jumping down from the shelf.
Although the diamond is the hardest natural substance, it can still suffer a surface scratch if handled with industrial abrasives during the cutting process.
Usage
Often used in the idiom 'from scratch' to mean starting something from the very beginning without using existing materials.