scrap
B1Neutral to informal. The sense meaning 'fight' is informal.
Definition
Meaning
A small piece or fragment of something, especially one that is left over or discarded.
Discarded material suitable for reprocessing; a fragment of information or text; to discard or get rid of something as useless; to engage in a minor fight or quarrel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans multiple parts of speech (noun, verb) with distinct but related meanings. The 'fight' sense is a separate etymological development from the 'fragment' sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use all senses. 'Scrap' (fight) may be slightly more informal in BrE. The verb meaning 'to discard' is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral for 'fragment' or 'recyclable metal', informal/slightly negative for 'fight'.
Frequency
All senses are common in both varieties. The business/industrial sense of 'metal scrap' is high-frequency in relevant contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scrap [NOUN] (e.g., scrap the car)scrap with [PERSON] (e.g., scrap with a rival)scrap over [ISSUE] (e.g., scrap over money)[NOUN] + is + scrap (e.g., The idea is scrap.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scrap heap of history”
- “not a scrap of (e.g., not a scrap of evidence)”
- “scraping the (bottom of the) barrel”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to waste material with residual value, especially metal (e.g., 'The factory sells its steel scrap'). Also means to abandon a project ('scrap the proposal').
Academic
Used literally for fragments (e.g., archaeological scrap) or metaphorically for bits of information (e.g., 'historical scraps').
Everyday
Common for small pieces of paper, food, etc., and for discarding items or ideas (e.g., 'I'll scrap that draft'). Informal for a fight.
Technical
In manufacturing and recycling, denotes specific categories of waste material for processing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council decided to scrap the old recycling scheme.
- The two lads scrapped in the playground after school.
American English
- The automaker will scrap the old engine design.
- They scrapped over the last piece of pizza.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use)
adjective
British English
- He made a model from scrap materials.
- The ship was sold for scrap metal.
American English
- Keep a scrap piece of wood for testing the stain.
- The car was deemed scrap after the crash.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Write your note on this scrap of paper.
- The dog ate every scrap of food.
- The old car was taken to the scrap yard.
- We had to scrap our picnic plans because of the rain.
- The journalist collected every scrap of information about the event.
- The proposal was controversial, so they decided to scrap it entirely.
- The two ministers scrapped publicly over the budget allocation.
- Archeologists painstakingly pieced together pottery from tiny scraps.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SCRAP of paper you might SCRAP (throw away) after a little SCRAP (fight) over what to write on it.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/PLANS ARE OBJECTS (to be scrapped/discarded). ARGUMENTS ARE PHYSICAL FIGHTS (to have a scrap).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'scrape' (/skreɪp/ - царапать, скрести).
- The noun 'scrap' (лом, обрезок) is different from the informal verb 'to scrap' meaning fight (подраться).
- 'Scrap' as a verb meaning 'discard' is not the same as 'scratch'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I scrapped my knee.' (Correct: 'I scraped my knee.')
- Incorrect: 'It's just a scrap of idea.' (Unnatural. Better: 'It's just a scrap of an idea' or 'a scrappy idea.')
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'scrap' mean 'a short, disorganised fight'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the meaning. 'Scrap' as a fragment or recyclable material is neutral. The verb meaning 'to discard' is neutral in business contexts. The meaning 'a fight' is informal.
'Scrap' (noun/verb) relates to a small piece or discarding. 'Scrape' (verb/noun) means to rub or drag something hard across a surface, often removing material (e.g., scrape your knee, scrape off paint).
Yes, commonly in phrases like 'scrap metal', 'scrap paper', or 'scrap material', meaning 'left over' or 'discarded and usable'.
It means to completely abandon or cancel the plan, deciding not to proceed with it.