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
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
scrapped; scrapping
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
Synonyms
Noun (1)
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)
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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2024
Speakers during public comments at a Tarrant County Commissioners Court session this month called on county leaders to act, saying that the walls of Campbell’s cell are covered with excrement and scraps of food.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024
Mattresses that are in poor shape get broken down and sold to recyclers, with mattress foam and filler turned into carpet padding and springs sold as scrap metal.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024
Burnham inspires an obsessive community of fans on Reddit and TikTok who analyze every scrap of information about him.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Following Howard’s death, Rogers sold the car used to move his body to a scrap metal dealership, according to prosecutors.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Saar has been collecting computer parts since a monthlong residency at M.I.T. in 1987, but the scraps on view at Roberts Projects came from her grandson, who was getting rid of an old device.
—Evan Nicole Brown, New York Times, 8 May 2024
There’s nothing more frustrating than carrying an armful of food scraps, dirty napkins, and throwaway cutlery only to fumble while opening the garbage bin.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
At the back of the lot, black soldier flies feed on kitchen scraps and grow into wriggling protein for the chickens that fertilize the soil with their droppings.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 7 May 2024
Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2024
Some managers have scrapped projects if they weren’t deemed profitable enough, the people said, stoking concern internally that the bank risks falling behind competitors.
—Alexandre Rajbhandari, Fortune Europe, 22 May 2024
Each city will still need to make their decisions on mortgage rates, after the nationwide minimum was scrapped.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
The Asian soccer confederation will vote this week on scrapping term limits for its senior leadership.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 15 May 2024
Now, owners Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin are scrapping the plans for good.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2024
The show aired its first three seasons on TNT before it was scrapped at the network in a cost cutting move.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 7 May 2024
After a year courting donors, Elevate was scrapped.
—Kenny Jacoby, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
The Orioles scrapped and clawed for their four runs off Cortes.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2024
Noun
With not a scrap of backstory required, this immensely satisfying vignette earns the film an early round of cheers.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2024
Speakers during public comments at a Tarrant County Commissioners Court session this month called on county leaders to act, saying that the walls of Campbell’s cell are covered with excrement and scraps of food.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024
Mattresses that are in poor shape get broken down and sold to recyclers, with mattress foam and filler turned into carpet padding and springs sold as scrap metal.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024
Burnham inspires an obsessive community of fans on Reddit and TikTok who analyze every scrap of information about him.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Following Howard’s death, Rogers sold the car used to move his body to a scrap metal dealership, according to prosecutors.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Saar has been collecting computer parts since a monthlong residency at M.I.T. in 1987, but the scraps on view at Roberts Projects came from her grandson, who was getting rid of an old device.
—Evan Nicole Brown, New York Times, 8 May 2024
There’s nothing more frustrating than carrying an armful of food scraps, dirty napkins, and throwaway cutlery only to fumble while opening the garbage bin.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
At the back of the lot, black soldier flies feed on kitchen scraps and grow into wriggling protein for the chickens that fertilize the soil with their droppings.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 7 May 2024
Verb
Other colleges and universities have also canceled graduation ceremonies or other large campus events citing the encampments, including an end-of-the-year festival that was scrapped at DePaul University last week.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2024
Some managers have scrapped projects if they weren’t deemed profitable enough, the people said, stoking concern internally that the bank risks falling behind competitors.
—Alexandre Rajbhandari, Fortune Europe, 22 May 2024
Each city will still need to make their decisions on mortgage rates, after the nationwide minimum was scrapped.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
The Asian soccer confederation will vote this week on scrapping term limits for its senior leadership.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 15 May 2024
Now, owners Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin are scrapping the plans for good.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2024
The show aired its first three seasons on TNT before it was scrapped at the network in a cost cutting move.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 7 May 2024
After a year courting donors, Elevate was scrapped.
—Kenny Jacoby, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
The Orioles scrapped and clawed for their four runs off Cortes.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scrap
Cite this Entry
“Scrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrap. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrap
2 of 4 verb
scrapped; scrapping
1
: to break up into scrap
2
: to discard as worthless
scrap
3 of 4 nounEtymology
Noun
Middle English scrap "discarded bits of food"; of Norse origin
Noun
origin unknown
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