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
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
Besides, the shop staff lets Young collect leftover scrap metal to create his own designs.
—La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Now, these students are weeks away from building a school compost garden that will recycle food scraps and grow seasonal fruits and vegetables.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024
The walls, old billboards and other scrap found here among the refugee camps of Rafah, on the opposite side of the Gaza Strip from his home.
—Rob Schmitz, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
The company was founded in 1941 as Krueger Metal Products to make basic folding chairs from scrap metal, about as modest a start as a company with global reach could have.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 10 May 2024
China’s efforts to revive homebuyer demand gathered steam on Thursday when two major cities scrapped all their remaining curbs on residential property purchases, a move that more local governments are expected to follow.
—Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 9 May 2024
Elordi is nearly a foot taller than Gere, so a shot of the two walking together — the older Fife morphing into the younger Fife — had to be scrapped.
—Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 9 May 2024
Thousands of tourists who used to come to Britain for tax-free shopping are now visiting stores in Paris, Milan and Madrid after the UK scrapped the incentive in the wake of Brexit.
—Jennifer Creery, Fortune Europe, 9 May 2024
New York's Hunter College scrapped its end-of-year event and invited the Class of 1970 back to walk the stage nearly a decade later, the New York Times reported in 1979.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
All told, the four companies have disclosed their intentions to scrap 306 tech jobs in the Bay Area.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
Another $417,000 would come from scrapping the city’s cannabis equity program, which would have helped eligible equity applicants with technical support, regulatory compliance and securing capital to launch a cannabis business.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2024
The country’s largest union demands a return to collective bargaining after labor rights were scrapped during Greece’s 2010-18 financial crisis.
—Mehmet Guzel and Hyung-Jin Kim, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
Noun
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
Besides, the shop staff lets Young collect leftover scrap metal to create his own designs.
—La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Now, these students are weeks away from building a school compost garden that will recycle food scraps and grow seasonal fruits and vegetables.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024
The walls, old billboards and other scrap found here among the refugee camps of Rafah, on the opposite side of the Gaza Strip from his home.
—Rob Schmitz, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
The company was founded in 1941 as Krueger Metal Products to make basic folding chairs from scrap metal, about as modest a start as a company with global reach could have.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Verb
And in 2020, the event as a whole was scrapped amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 10 May 2024
China’s efforts to revive homebuyer demand gathered steam on Thursday when two major cities scrapped all their remaining curbs on residential property purchases, a move that more local governments are expected to follow.
—Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 9 May 2024
Elordi is nearly a foot taller than Gere, so a shot of the two walking together — the older Fife morphing into the younger Fife — had to be scrapped.
—Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 9 May 2024
Thousands of tourists who used to come to Britain for tax-free shopping are now visiting stores in Paris, Milan and Madrid after the UK scrapped the incentive in the wake of Brexit.
—Jennifer Creery, Fortune Europe, 9 May 2024
New York's Hunter College scrapped its end-of-year event and invited the Class of 1970 back to walk the stage nearly a decade later, the New York Times reported in 1979.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
All told, the four companies have disclosed their intentions to scrap 306 tech jobs in the Bay Area.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
Another $417,000 would come from scrapping the city’s cannabis equity program, which would have helped eligible equity applicants with technical support, regulatory compliance and securing capital to launch a cannabis business.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2024
The country’s largest union demands a return to collective bargaining after labor rights were scrapped during Greece’s 2010-18 financial crisis.
—Mehmet Guzel and Hyung-Jin Kim, The Christian Science Monitor, 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 16 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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