scour
1 (skour)
[Middle English scouren, from Middle Dutch scūren, from Old French escurer, from Late Latin excūrāre, to clean out, Latin ex-, ex-, Late Latin cūrāre, to clean (from Latin, to take care of) (from cūra, care; see cure).]
verb: scoured, scour·ing, scours.
transitive verb
- To clean, polish, or wash by scrubbing vigorously: scour a dirty oven.
- To remove by scrubbing: scour grease from a pan.
- To remove dirt or grease from (cloth or fibers) by means of a detergent.
- To clean (wheat) before the milling process.
- To clear (an area) by freeing of weeds or other vegetation.
- To clear (a channel or pipe) by flushing.
intransitive verb
- To scrub something in order to clean or polish it.
- To have diarrhea. Used of livestock.
noun
- A scouring action or effect.
- A place that has been scoured, as by flushing with water.
- A cleansing agent for wool.
- Diarrhea in livestock.
derivatives
- scouŕer
- noun
scour
2 (skour)
[Middle English scouren, to move swiftly, probably of Scandinavian originOld Norse skūr, shower.]
verb: scoured, scour·ing, scours.
transitive verb
- To search through or over thoroughly: The detective scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
- To range over (an area) quickly and energetically.
intransitive verb
- To range over or about an area, especially in a search.
- To move swiftly; scurry.
derivatives
- scouŕer
- noun
