Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Marked by or consisting of scratches.
  • adjective Making a harsh scratching noise.
  • adjective Harsh and irritating.
  • adjective Irregular; uneven.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Consisting of mere scratches, or presenting the appearance of such; ragged; rough; irregular.
  • Scratching; that scratches, scrapes, or grates: as, a scratchy pen; a scratchy noise.
  • Of little depth of soil; consisting of rocks barely covered with soil: as, scratchy land.
  • Wearing a scratch-wig.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Characterized by scratches.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Characterized by scratches; itchy; irritating.
  • adjective annoying, irritating
  • adjective informal (of an analogue radio transmission) noisy, lossy; marred by white noise or static as a result of poor or low signal, interference or unfavourable atmospheric conditions

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective lacking consistency
  • adjective unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
  • adjective causing abrasion
  • adjective easily irritated or annoyed

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Chapter/Region: with the * scratchy scratchy scratchy* with the diamond needles .....

    NASIOC 2010

  • And now, in this new Web ad, which is posted on Obama's Web site, she complains that the Clinton camp used that old video, which she said was intended for things like cough syrup, for the politics of fears -- tinting the footage and adding what she calls a scratchy voice.

    CNN Transcript Mar 21, 2008 2008

  • His aged voice was hoarse and scratchy from the drinking of too much swipes at a funeral the night before, nothing of which contributed to make me less irritable.

    The Water Baby 2010

  • Later, as they lay wrapped in scratchy sheets, her eyes flashing a very ordinary hazel and she cackled, “I have an idea.”

    365 tomorrows » 2009 » June : A New Free Flash Fiction SciFi Story Every Day 2009

  • His aged voice was hoarse and scratchy from the drinking of too much swipes at a funeral the night before, nothing of which contributed to make me less irritable.

    THE WATER BABY 2010

  • For Santa, that task is to deliver toys on Christmas Eve and sit in scratchy suits in department stores and next to food courts across the land.

    Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Give yourself a gift 2008

  • I've got it in scratchy AM, 33s, 45s and eight-track ...

    On Dear Days Gone By 2008

  • His aged voice was hoarse and scratchy from the drinking of too much swipes at a funeral the night before, nothing of which contributed to make me less irritable.

    The Water Baby 1919

  • AF is lovely on me- but I find the incensey woods 'scratchy'- not velvety.

    My drummer must be different: Annick Goutal Les Orientalistes (Ambre Fetiche, Myrrhe Ardente and Encens Flamboyant) Marina Geigert 2008

  • The CD's substandard sound quality recalls scratchy and filthy vinyl reproduction but, regardless, Rare Meat proves essential for collectors or diehards wishing to own his earliest recordings.

    Lágrima Psicodélica 2008

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