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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Scrap: Definition, Usage & Real-Life Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：small leftover piece (scrap)

scrap 🔊

/skræp/

A very small piece or amount of something, usually leftover or broken off from a larger thing.

Scrap definition illustrated with torn paper bits and crumbs on a table.

small leftover piece 🔊

➕

/smɔːl ˈleftoʊvər piːs/

A tiny fragment or bit of something, often remaining after use or broken off from a larger object.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old Norse 'skrap', meaning fragments or scraps.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of scraps as small leftover bits, like paper offcuts from a project.

📖 Example

After the children finished their art project, the table was covered in scraps of colored paper and little bits of glue. 🔊 The table was scattered with tiny pieces of colored paper and glue bits after the art project.

🔗 Collocations

scrap of paper – a small piece of paper

scraps of food – leftover bits of food

scrap of evidence – a tiny piece of evidence

🔄 Synonyms

fragment (n.) – a small part broken off from something larger

piece (n.) – a portion or bit of something

bit (n.) – a small amount or part

🚫 Antonyms

whole (n.) – the entire thing, not broken into pieces

entirety (n.) – the complete amount or object

🌱 Derivatives

scrappy (adj.) – made of scraps or fragmentary

scrapbook (n.) – a book for keeping scraps or clippings

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Middle English 'scrappe', likely from Old Norse 'skrap'. Now commonly used in recycling industries for metal waste.

Meaning 2：recyclable metal waste (scrap)

scrap 🔊

/skræp/

Old metal, cars, or machines that are no longer useful in their current form but can be recycled and made into new things.

recyclable metal waste 🔊

➕

/rɪˈsaɪkləbl ˈmetl weɪst/

Discarded metal objects or materials that are no longer useful in their original form but can be processed for reuse in manufacturing.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The old factory was being torn down, and all the metal beams and pipes were sold as scrap to a recycling center. 🔊 The metal from the demolished factory was sold as scrap to a recycling center for processing.

🔗 Collocations

scrap metal – metal waste intended for recycling

scrap yard – a place where scrap materials are collected and processed

scrap value – the monetary worth of materials when sold as scrap

🔄 Synonyms

junk (n.) – old or discarded items, often of little value

waste (n.) – unwanted or unusable materials

debris (n.) – scattered fragments, especially from destruction

🚫 Antonyms

new material (n.) – fresh, unused substances ready for manufacturing

🌱 Derivatives

scrapheap (n.) – a pile of scrap materials

scrap dealer (n.) – a person who buys and sells scrap materials