scour

[ skouuhr, skou-er ]

/ skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər /

verb (used with object)

to remove dirt, grease, etc., from or to cleanse or polish by hard rubbing, as with a rough or abrasive material: to scour pots and pans.

to remove (dirt, grease, etc.) from something by hard rubbing: to scour grease from pots and pans.

to clear or dig out (a channel, drain, etc.) as by the force of water, by removing debris, etc.

to purge thoroughly, as an animal.

to clear or rid of what is undesirable: to scour the nation of spies.

to remove by or as if by cleansing; get rid of.

to clean or rid of debris, impurities, etc., by or as if by washing, as cotton or wool.

Metallurgy. (of the contents of a blast furnace) to rub against and corrode (the refractory lining).

verb (used without object)

to rub a surface in order to cleanse or polish it.

to remove dirt, grease, etc.

to become clean and shiny.

to be capable of being cleaned by rubbing: The roasting pan scours easily.

(of a plow, cultivator, etc.) to pass through the ground without soil clinging to the blade.

(of a plow, shovel, etc.) to become polished from use.

noun

the act of scouring.

the place scoured.

an apparatus or material used in scouring; scourer: Sand is a good scour.

the erosive force of moving water, as in a river or sea.

Usually scours. (used with a singular or plural verb) Veterinary Pathology. diarrhea in horses and cattle caused by intestinal infection.

Origin of scour

1250–1300; Middle English scouren (v.) < Middle Dutch scūren < Old French escurer < Latin excūrāre to take care of (Medieval Latin escūrāre to clean), equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + cūrāre to care for

SYNONYMS FOR scour

1 burnish, buff, shine, rub.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scour ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby scour

scottsdale, scotty, scotus, scoundrel, scoundrelly, scour, scourer, scourge, scouring pad, scouring rush, scourings

Definition for scour (2 of 2)

scour ²

[ skouuhr, skou-er ]

/ skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər /

verb (used with object)

to range over, as in a search: They scoured the countryside for the lost child.

to run or pass quickly over or along.

verb (used without object)

to range about, as in search of something.

to move rapidly or energetically.

Origin of scour

1250–1300; Middle English scouren; perhaps < Old Norse skūr shower¹

SYNONYMS FOR scour

1 comb, rake, scan.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scour ON THESAURUS.COM

Example sentences from the Web for scour

A delightful cast battles over a will and a stolen painting as a horde of pseudo-Nazis scour the mountains for fugitives.

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ Review: Wes Anderson’s Best Ever Is a Whimsical Crime Caper |Nico Hines |February 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Immediately after the attack, Philip used his searchlights to scour the ocean for survivors to rescue.

The Grand Old Duke of Edinburgh: Why Everybody Loves Phil |Tom Sykes |November 23, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Every day, the two men, part of a 25-person outreach force, scour the streets looking for people everyone else wants to ignore.

Advocates Reached Out to Ronald Poppo Before He Was Face-Eating Victim |Aram Roston |June 4, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Immediately after the attack, Philip used his searchlights to scour the ocean for survivors.

12 Juicy Bits From the Prince Philip Biography |Tom Sykes |November 14, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

There have already been two expensive efforts to scour the ocean bed of the South Atlantic since the Airbus A330 disappeared.

The 800 Dangerous Airbus Planes in the Sky |Clive Irving |March 14, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
The weakly, and such as are inclined to scour, must be kept on dry fodder, and have peas and beans given them to strengthen them.

On the cattle plague: or, Contagious typhus in horned cattle. Its history, origin, description, and treatment |Honor Bourguignon
If calves are inclined to purge or scour, as the farmers call it, put a little rennet in their food.

Soil Culture |J. H. Walden
Didn't he use to scour their skillets and sasepans, to git the garlic out on 'em?

Mabel's Mistake |Ann S. Stephens
She questioned herself why did she secrete the sword—run home with it—wash it and scour it?

Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland |Various
When used, lower it with a little water, and scour the part with it.

The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, |Mary Eaton

British Dictionary definitions for scour (1 of 2)

scour ¹

/ (skaʊə) /

verb

to clean or polish (a surface) by washing and rubbing, as with an abrasive cloth

to remove dirt from or have the dirt removed from

(tr) to clear (a channel) by the force of water; flush

(tr) to remove by or as if by rubbing

(intr) (of livestock, esp cattle) to have diarrhoea

(tr) to cause (livestock) to purge their bowels

(tr) to wash (wool) to remove wax, suint, and other impurities

noun

the act of scouring

the place scoured, esp by running water

something that scours, such as a cleansing agent

(often plural) prolonged diarrhoea in livestock, esp cattle

Derived forms of scour

scourer, noun

Word Origin for scour

C13: via Middle Low German schūren, from Old French escurer, from Late Latin excūrāre to cleanse, from cūrāre; see cure

British Dictionary definitions for scour (2 of 2)

scour ²

/ (skaʊə) /

verb

to range over (territory), as in making a search

to move swiftly or energetically over (territory)

Word Origin for scour

C14: from Old Norse skūr

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

scour

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of scour

SYNONYMS FOR scour

Words nearby scour

Definition for scour (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of scour

SYNONYMS FOR scour

Example sentences from the Web for scour

British Dictionary definitions for scour (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of scour

Word Origin for scour

British Dictionary definitions for scour (2 of 2)

verb

Word Origin for scour

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

scour

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of scour

SYNONYMS FOR scour

Words nearby scour

Definition for scour (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of scour

SYNONYMS FOR scour

Words related to scour

Example sentences from the Web for scour

British Dictionary definitions for scour (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of scour

Word Origin for scour

British Dictionary definitions for scour (2 of 2)

verb

Word Origin for scour