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screen saver
scratch /skrætʃ/ v 1 [I;T] to make a mark on (a surface) or
a small wound in (a person's skin) by rubbing with something
pointed or rough: Be careful the cat doesn't scratch you. | The
dog's scratching at the door to be (=because it wants to be) let
in. | I scratched the side of the car as I was driving through the
gate. | I scratched my hand on a rose thorn. | The record is very
badly scratched. 2 [T+obj+adv/prep] to put or remove by doing
this: He scratched his name on the wall with a knife. | The dog
has scratched some of the paint off the door. 3 [I;T] to rub (a
part of the body) lightly and repeatedly, especially to stop an
ITCH: Don't keep scratching your nose/those insect
bites. 4 [I;T] a) to remove (oneself, a horse etc) from a race
or competition before it starts: The horse was scratched on
the day before the race. b) to remove from consideration:
ABANDON: I guess we can scratch that idea. | They scratched
their plans for the weekend. 5 scratch the surface [usually in
negatives] to deal with only the beginning of a matter or only
a few of many cases: This report is very superficial; it doesn't
even scratch the surface of the problem.
scratch sthg. up/together phr v AmE → scrape together
(SCRAPE)
scratch² n 1 [C] a mark or small wound made by scratch-
ing: There were some nasty scratches on the beautiful
mahogany table. | I don't need a bandage; it's only a scratch. |
She came out of the accident without a scratch. (=unhurt) 2 [C] a sound made (as if) by scratching: You
couldn't hear the music because of all the hisses and scratches
on the record. 3 [S] an act of scratching a part of the body:
The dog was having a scratch. (=scratching itself) 4 [U] a
type of music produced by stopping a record while it is
playing and moving it by hand to make a scratching
sound 5 [C] (of a player in GOLF) having a HANDICAP of
zero 6 from scratch infml starting from the beginning or
with nothing: It's completely ruined, so we'll have to do it all
again/start from scratch. | Did you make that cake from
scratch or did you use a cake mix? 7 up to scratch infml in (to)
good condition or at/to an acceptable standard: The pianist
was not feeling well and her performance wasn't up to scratch.
→ see also SCRATCHY
cratch3 adj [A no comp.] made or put together in a hurry
using whatever could be found: Many of our best players
were injured, so we could only put out a scratch side.
cratch card, scratch card /skrætkɑːrd|l-kɑːrd/ n BrE a
small card you can buy which gives you a chance to win a
prize. You rub off the surface of the card to find out whether
you have won anything.
cratch-ings /skrætʃɪz/ n [P] BrE small pieces of cooked
PORK skin usually eaten cold; often sold in bags in PUBS →
compare CRACKLING
cratch-pad /'skrætʃpæd/ n especially AmE a small pile of
loosely-joined sheets of paper for writing informal notes
cratch paper n [U] AmE for SCRAP PAPER
cratch test n a test made by scratching (SCRATCH) the skin
with a substance then waiting for a reaction in order to see if
one has an ALLERGY to the substance
cratchy /skrætʃi/ adj 1 (of a recording or its sound)
spoiled by scratches 2 (of clothes) hot, rough, and uncom-
fortable: a scratchy woollen shirt 3 made as if by scratching
paper with a pen: What's her name? I can't read this scratchy
signature. -iness n [U]
crawl¹ /skroːl/ v [T] to write in a careless, hurried, awkward,
or unskilful way; SCRIBBLE: to scrawl a few hurried lines
crawl² n infml 1 [C usually sing.] something written awkwardly,
or fast and carelessly: She just sent us a scrawl on a card to
say she was having a good time. 2 [S] an awkward or
irregular way of writing: This letter must be from Frank; I
recognize his scrawl.
crawny /'skroːni/ adj infml derog (of a person, animal, or part
of the body) without much flesh on the bones; thin: his
scrawny neck
cream /skriːm/ v [I;T(OUT)] to cry out loudly on a high note,
especially in fear, pain, great excitement, or anger, or some-
times laughter: I screamed for help. | She was screaming
hysterically. | We screamed with laughter at her joke. | He
screamed out a warning not to touch the electric wire. | The
crowd screamed its approval. | a screaming baby | (fig.) The wind
screamed down the chimney. | [+to-v] (fig.) These injustices simply
scream to be remedied. (=it is extremely clear that they must be)
scream² n 1 [C] a sudden loud cry expressing anger, pain,
fear, or sometimes laughter: Her loud screams could be heard
all over the house. | a scream of anguish | (fig.) The scream of
the jets overhead drowned our conversation. 2 [S] infml an
extremely funny person, thing, joke etc: She thought it was
an absolute scream when I fell off my chair.
scream-ing /skriːmɪŋ/ adj 1 attracting a lot of attention: a
screaming tabloid exposé 2 very funny: a screaming new
comedy — -ly adv
scree /skriː/ n [U] a mass of small loose broken rocks on the
side of a mountain
screech¹ /skriːtʃ/ v 1 [I;T(OUT)] to make an unpleasant high
sharp sound, especially because of terror or pain; SHRIEK: A
man was peering in at her. She screeched in fright and drew
the curtains. | 'Leave me alone!' she screeched. 2 [I] (of a
machine, especially of a TYRE or BRAKES) to make a noise like
this: The lorry came to a screeching halt. (=stopped
suddenly) | (fig.) The project screeched to a halt/standstill when
the government withdrew all funding.
screech² n a screeching sound: a screech of brakes
screed /skriːd/ also screeds pl. — n BrE infml derog a long and
usually dull speech or piece of writing: He'd written screeds
and screeds, but none of it was of any interest.
screen¹ /skriːn/ n 1 an upright frame, sometimes made of
folding parts, which is used as a small usually movable wall
for dividing a room or for protecting people from view, from
cold air, from fires etc: They put a screen round his bed so the
doctor could examine him. | Always put a screen in front of the
fire if children are playing nearby. 2 [(for)] something that
protects, shelters, or hides: We planted a screen of trees to keep
out the wind. | (fig.) His used-car firm was just a screen for illicit
drug trading. 3 a surface on which a cinema film is shown:
We sat at the front, very close to the screen. | She first appeared
on the screen (=acted in her first film) ten years ago. | The play
was adapted for the screen (=rewritten to be made into a film)
by its original author. → see also SMALL SCREEN 4 the front
glass surface of an electrical instrument, especially a tele-
vision, on which pictures or information appear: Using a
VDU, you can change the text on screen. | This popular show
will be back on your screens (=broadcast on television) again
next year. 5 a frame holding a net or a surface with holes in
it, used for separating large things, which do not pass
through the holes, from small things, which do: We'd better
get the screens up on the windows; bugs are starting to get in.
screen² v [T] 1 [(from)] to shelter or protect from light, wind
etc: He screened his eyes with his hand. 2 [(OFF, from)] to hide
from view (as if) with a screen: A floppy hat screened her face. |
Part of the room was screened off as a reception area. 3 [(from)]
to protect from harm or punishment: He admitted the crime
in order to screen his wife, who was the real criminal. 4 [OUT]
often pass.] to test in order to find out ability, health, suitabil-
ity, loyalty etc, and so be able to remove those that do not
reach the proper standard: A hundred carefully screened peo-
ple were invited to dinner with the President. | Unsuitable
candidates were screened out. (=were got rid of after being
tested) 5 [usually pass.] to show or broadcast (a film or tele-
vision show): The big match is being screened live.
screen sthg. out phr v [T] to prevent from coming
through by a covering or SCREEN: The curtains screen out the
sunlight.
'Screen Actors' Guild, the the full name of the SAG
'screen door n a door outside the main door at the front or
back of a house that lets air in but keeps insects out. They
are common all over the US but rare in Britain.
screen-ing /'skriːnɪŋ/ n 1 [C,U] (a) showing of a film: The
new film gets its first London screening next week. 2 [U] the
process of screening (SCREEN) people or things: more efficient
breast cancer screening
screen-play /'skriːnpleɪ/ n a story written for a film or
television
'screen printing n [U] SILK SCREEN
'screen saver n a computer program that makes a moving
image appear on the screen when the image on it has not
changed for a period of time, especially so that the screen
does not become damaged