scrap

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskrap 

often attributive

1

scraps plural : fragments of discarded or leftover food

2

a

: a small detached piece

a scrap of paper

b

: a fragment of something written, printed, or spoken

scraps of conversation

c

: the least bit

not a scrap of evidence

3

scraps plural : cracklings

4

a

: fragments of stock removed in manufacturing

b

: manufactured articles or parts rejected or discarded and useful only as material for reprocessing

especially : waste and discarded metal

scrap

2 of 4

verb (1)

scrapped; scrapping

transitive verb

1

: to convert into scrap

2

: to abandon or get rid of as no longer of enough worth or effectiveness to retain

scrap outworn methods

scrap

3 of 4

noun (2)

: fight

scrap

4 of 4

verb (2)

scrapped; scrapping

intransitive verb

: quarrel, fight

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• end
• fag end
• leftover
• oddment
• remainder
• remnant
• stub

Verb (1)

• cashier
• cast (off)
• chuck
• deep-six
• discard
• ditch
• dump
• eighty-six
• 86
• exorcise
• exorcize
• fling (off or away)
• jettison
• junk
• lay by
• lose
• pitch
• reject
• shed
• shuck (off)
• slough (off)
• sluff (off)
• throw away
• throw out
• toss
• unload

Noun (2)

• altercation
• argle-bargle [chiefly British]
• argument
• argy-bargy [chiefly British]
• battle royal
• bicker
• brawl
• contretemps
• controversy
• cross fire
• disagreement
• dispute
• donnybrook
• falling-out
• fight
• hassle
• imbroglio
• kickup
• misunderstanding
• quarrel
• rhubarb
• row
• set-to
• spat
• squabble
• tiff
• wrangle

Verb (2)

• altercate
• argue
• argufy
• bicker
• brabble
• brawl
• controvert
• dispute
• fall out
• fight
• hassle
• jar
• quarrel
• quibble
• row
• spat
• squabble
• tiff
• wrangle

Choose the Right Synonym for scrap

discard, cast, shed, slough, scrap, junk mean to get rid of.

discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit

finally sloughed off the depression

scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways

would junk our educational system

Examples of scrap in a Sentence

Noun (1)

only a scrap of silk was left on the sewing table after they had finished the project

a scrap of paper fluttered to the floor

brushed away a scrap of lint

the rest of this stuff is just scrap, so sweep it up and throw it away

Verb (1)

we've decided to scrap the second car

we scrapped our plans to go to Paris, and set out the next day for Prague

Noun (2)

the state legislature's annual scrap over the budget

several drunken revelers were involved in a scrap outside of the nightclub

Verb (2)

the young couple often scrapped about money and their very disparate spending habits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Most clothes made of recycled materials use post-consumer plastic bottles or fabric scraps — an important element of textile recycling, but not a sufficient answer to pollution from fashion. —Lewis Perkins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025

Here’s City writer, Sam Lee, who has gorged and feasted upon trophies galore in recent years, while the rest of us dine on scraps (or the Sela Cup, in my case). —George Caulkin, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Verb

And after Trump won this past November’s election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office. —Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025

And after Trump won this past November's election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office. —Michael R. Sisak, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old Norse skrap scraps; akin to Old Norse skrapa to scrape

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1874, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing scrap

• scrap heap
• scrap paper

Kids Definition

scrap

1 of 4 noun

ˈskrap 

1

plural : pieces of discarded or leftover food

2

: a small bit : fragment

3

: things discarded as worthless

scrap

2 of 4 verb

scrapped; scrapping

1

: to break up into scrap

2

: to discard as worthless

scrap

3 of 4 noun

: quarrel entry 1 sense 2, fight

scrap

4 of 4 verb

scrapped; scrapping

: quarrel entry 2 sense 2, fight

scrapper noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scrap "discarded bits of food"; of Norse origin

Noun

origin unknown