scrap

plural scraps

1. countableuncountableA (small) piece; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion.

   I found a scrap of cloth to patch the hole.

   1 more example

   I have no materials — not a scrap.

   1852, Thomas De Quincey, “Sir William Hamilton”, in Hogg's Instructor

   Synonyms: scraplet, snippet, bit, chip, chunk, tranche, clip, crumb

   1. countableuncountableThe smallest amount.

      I don't care a scrap.

      1 more example

      “I don't mind anything. I don't mind your being technically German a scrap. All I think is that it was a little—well, perhaps a little excessive to marry another German when you had done it once already. […]”

      1920, [Elizabeth von Arnim], In the Mountains, Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, page 188

      Synonyms: scraplet, snippet, bit, chip, chunk, tranche, clip, crumb

2. countableplural normallyuncountableLeftover food.

   Give the scraps to the animals: any meat to the dogs, and the rest to the hogs.

   Synonyms: gubbins, leftover, ort

3. countableuncountableThe crisp substance that remains after drying out animal fat.

   pork scraps

4. uncountableDiscarded objects (especially metal) that may be dismantled to recover their constituent materials, junk.

   That car isn't good for anything but scrap.

   1 more example

   “We need a set of wheels to carry out this plan of yours.” “Queenie?” “We need her now more than ever.” “Will she still be in the field where we left her?” “No, no, no. The fuzz will have towed her away by now.” “Where will she be, then?” “They will have sold the old girl off for scrap.”

   2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN

   Synonyms: cultch, crap, debris, dreck, drek, garbage, gash, junk

5. UKcountablein pluraluncountableA piece of deep-fried batter left over from frying fish, sometimes sold with chips.

   Synonyms: gribble, scratching

6. uncountableLoose-leaf tobacco of a low grade, such as sweepings left over from handling higher grades.

   Synonyms: trash

7. countableethnicoffensivesluruncountableA Hispanic criminal, especially a Mexican or one affiliated with the Sureno gang.
8. countableobsoleteuncountableA snare for catching birds.

present singular third person scraps · participle present scrapping · participle past scrapped · past scrapped

1. transitiveTo discard; to get rid of.

   The party plans to scrap the military-drafted constitution, and bring the army's many business interests under the Ministry of Finance.

   2023 May 29, Jonathan Head, “Pita Limjaroenrat: Thai election upstart who vows to be different”, in BBC

   1 more example

   "The wire is probably at the station." "True; you said 10.45. Well, what do you propose doing now?" "Scrapping all our arrangements and recovering the papers without arresting Slater."

   1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC

2. transitiveTo stop working on (a project or plan) indefinitely.

   Synonyms: abort, cancel, mothball

3. intransitiveTo scrapbook; to create scrapbooks.
4. transitiveTo dispose of at a scrapyard.

   Northern made much of the scrapping of the first of the Pacers (142005), and to date 35 of its Class 142s have been scrapped, with a further 11 off-lease at Gascoigne Wood.

   2020 May 20, John Crosse, “Soon to be gone... but never forgotten”, in Rail, page 63

5. transitiveTo make into scrap.

   Standing on the mountain above Caerphilly, one may reflect upon the gap where once stood Llanbradach Viaduct, and look near at hand upon the restored ruins of Caerphilly Castle; man labours to rebuild the mediaeval whilst he ruthlessly scraps the modern.

   1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 165

plural scraps

1. A fight, tussle, skirmish.

   We got in a little scrap over who should pay the bill.

   Synonyms: scrimmage

present singular third person scraps · participle present scrapping · participle past scrapped · past scrapped

1. to fight

   Oh yeah! Keep it spicy! You know I love a good tussle, Gonzales! Keep on scrappin', son! 'Course, it ain't gonna do you much good in the end.

   2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Glitzville