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WordReference can't find this exact phrase, but click on each word to see its meaning:
We could not find the full phrase you were looking for. The entry for "scour" is displayed below. Also see: scouring | barrel
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025scour1 /skaʊr, ˈskaʊɚ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
- to cleanse by hard rubbing:to scour a dirty frying pan.
- to remove (dirt, etc.) from something by hard rubbing:to scour the grease off the frying pan.
- Civil Engineeringto clear (a channel, etc.), as by the force of water:The river scoured a path through the valley.
scour2 /skaʊr, ˈskaʊɚ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
- to range over (an area), as in search:to scour the countryside for a lost child.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025scour1
(skouər, skou′ər),USA pronunciation v.t.
- 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.
- Civil Engineeringto 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.
- Textilesto 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).
v.i.
- 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.
- Agriculture(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.
n.
- the act of scouring.
- the place scoured.
- an apparatus or material used in scouring;
scourer:Sand is a good scour.
- Geographythe erosive force of moving water, as in a river or sea.
- Veterinary DiseasesUsually, scours. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)diarrhea in horses and cattle caused by intestinal infection.
- Latin excūrāre to take care of (Medieval Latin escūrāre to clean), equivalent. to ex- ex-1 + cūrāre to care for
- Old French escurer
- Middle Dutch scūren
- Middle English scouren (verb, verbal) 1250–1300
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged burnish, buff, shine, rub.
scour2
(skouər, skou′ər),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to range over, as in a search:They scoured the countryside for the lost child.
- to run or pass quickly over or along.
v.i.
- to range about, as in search of something.
- to move rapidly or energetically.
- Old Norse skūr shower1
- 1250–1300; Middle English scouren; perh.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged comb, rake, scan.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
scour / ˈskaʊə/ - 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
- (transitive) to clear (a channel) by the force of water; flush
- (transitive) to remove by or as if by rubbing
- (transitive) to cause (livestock) to purge their bowels
- 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
Etymology: 13th Century: via Middle Low German schūren, from Old French escurer, from Late Latin excūrāre to cleanse, from cūrāre; see cureˈscourer scour / ˈskaʊə/ - to range over (territory), as in making a search
- to move swiftly or energetically over (territory)
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old Norse skūr
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