scouting

UK: 'scouting', 'Scouting': /ˈskaʊtɪŋ/ US: (skou′ting)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scout•ing  (skou′ting), n. 

1. an act or instance of reconnoitering;
   reconnaissance.
2. the activities of a scout or scouts.
3. (often cap.) the program of activities of the Boy Scouts or the Girl Scouts.

• scout¹ + -ing¹ 1635–45

scout′ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scout¹ /skaʊt/   n. 
n. [countable]

1. a soldier, airplane, etc., sent out to get information about the enemy, such as troop numbers, etc.
2. a person sent out to obtain information.
3. a person sent out to discover new talent, as in sports or entertainment.
4. [sometimes: Scout] a member of the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.

v. 

5. to act as a scout: [no object]
   The soldiers went out to scout around.
   [~ + object]
   The coach scouted the opposing team and noticed a weakness in their defense.
6. to make a search;
   hunt:
   [no object] scouting around for a good restaurant.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scout¹  (skout), n. 

1. a soldier, warship, airplane, etc., employed in reconnoitering.
2. a person sent out to obtain information.
3. Sport
   • a person who observes and reports on the techniques, players, etc., of opposing teams.
   • a person sent out by a team to observe and recommend new talent for recruitment.
4. a talent scout, as in the entertainment field.
5. an act or instance of reconnoitering, inspecting, observing, etc.
6. (sometimes cap.) a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.
7. Informal Terms a person:
   He's a good scout.
8. British Terms a man acting as servant to a student at Oxford University.

v.i. 

9. to act as a scout;
   reconnoiter.
10. to make a search;
    hunt.
11. to work as a talent scout.

v.t. 

12. to examine, inspect, or observe for the purpose of obtaining information;
    reconnoiter:
    to scout the enemy's defenses.
13. to seek;
    search for (usually fol. by out or up):
    to scout up a date for Friday night.
14. to find by seeking, searching, or looking (usually fol. by out or up):
    Scout out a good book for me to read.

• Middle French escoute, derivative of escouter
• Late Latin ascultāre, Latin auscultāre to listen; see auscultate; (noun, nominal)
• Old French escouter, escolter, ascolter (French écouter to listen)
• (verb, verbal) Middle English skowten 1300–50

scout²  (skout), v.t. 

1. to treat with scorn;
   dismiss.
2. to make fun of;
   deride;
   mock.

v.i. 

3. to scoff;
   jeer.

• Old Norse skūta, skūt abuse, angry words. See shout
• perh. 1595–1605

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Scouting / ˈskaʊtɪŋ/ noun

1. the activities, programmes, principles, etc, of the Scout Association
2. (as modifier): the international Scouting movement

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scout / skaʊt/ noun

1. a person, ship, or aircraft sent out to gain information
2. a person or unit despatched to reconnoitre the position of the enemy
3. the act or an instance of scouting
4. (esp at Oxford University) a college servant
   Compare gyp3
5. a fellow or companion

verb

1. to examine or observe (anything) in order to obtain information
2. (tr; sometimes followed by out or up) to seek
3. (intr; followed by about or around) to go in search (for)

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French ascouter to listen to, from Latin auscultāre to auscultate

ˈscouter noun

scout / skaʊt/ verb

1. to reject (a person or thing) with contempt

Etymology: 17th Century: from Old Norse skūta derision