scrabble
/ˈskræbəl/
noun
- A frantic or clumsy scratching or searching movement.
- With a quick scrabble, she found her phone under the couch.
- I heard a scrabble at the window and saw a bird trying to get in.
- There was a scrabble of claws on the hardwood floor.
- A difficult or hurried struggle to achieve something.
- The scrabble for food after the storm was desperate.
- The scrabble for the best seats began as soon as the doors opened.
- It was a real scrabble to finish the project on time.
verb
- To scratch or grope around with the hands or feet, often in a hurried or clumsy way.
- The cat scrabbled at the door to be let in.
- She scrabbled through her bag looking for her keys.
- He scrabbled up the muddy bank, grabbing at roots.
- To struggle or compete frantically to obtain something.
- Fans scrabbled for the limited edition tickets.
- They scrabbled for the last piece of cake.
- Small businesses are scrabbling to survive in the tough economy.