To drag a hardened steel or carbide point across a metal surface to mark a physical line for machining or layout. Unlike ink or pencil, a scribed line cannot rub off and provides a physical groove that can catch a fingernail or guide a center punch. It is usually done over a coating of layout fluid to make the scratch highly visible.
Heard on the job
Coat that plate in Dykem and scribe your bolt hole locations before you bring it to the drill press.