Meaning & use
scrapings
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Meanings
nounusually plural
Small bits of material removed from a surface by scraping, often kept as leftovers or for examination.
Grammar: Usually plural: the scrapings were tested in the lab.
Patterns
- scrapings from something
- scrapings of something
The scientist took scrapings from the wall to test the paint.
She fed the chickens the scrapings from the dinner plates.
Scrapings of rust fell onto the floor as he worked.
nounusually pluralfigurative
The last small amount of something, collected with difficulty from what remains.
Grammar: Usually plural and often figurative: the scrapings of their savings.
Patterns
- the scrapings of something
They lived on the scrapings of their old savings.
The last scrapings of the pot were barely enough for one person.
Common combinations
- scrapings from the pot
- He ate the scrapings from the pot of rice.
- paint scrapings
- Paint scrapings were sent to the lab.
- take scrapings
- The doctor took scrapings from the skin to test.
- skin scrapings
- Skin scrapings can show whether a fungus is present.
- the scrapings of a barrel
- The team was built from the scrapings of the barrel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shavings
- Shavings are thin curls cut off, often wood, while scrapings are rubbed off with a flat edge.
- leftovers
- Leftovers is wider and refers to any unused food, while scrapings are the small remains stuck to a surface.
- remnants
- Remnants can be any remaining part, and suggests a larger leftover piece than scrapings.
Word family
Commonly confused: scrapings or shavings?
scrapings vs shavings
Shavings are thin pieces cut by a blade or plane, usually wood or metal, while scrapings come off by scraping.
Practice
The detective sent ____ from under the victim's fingernails to the lab.
Choose one answer.
Scrapings are small bits removed from a surface for testing. Shavings suggests wood curls, which does not suit the context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scrapings”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.