scar·i·fy [ skárrə f ](past and past participlescar·i·fied, present participlescar·i·fy·ing, 3rd person present singularscar·i·fies)
transitive verb
Definition:
1. make scratches on skin: to make scratches on or superficial incisions in the skin, as a traditional cosmetic practice in some cultures or as a medical procedure
2. loosen soil: to break up and loosen the surface of soil
3. scratch seeds: to break the outer cover of hard seeds to aid germination
[14th century. Via French scarifier< late Latin skarificare< Greek skariphasthai "scratch an outline" < skariphos "stylus"]
