Definition of Scour

1. Noun. A place that is scoured (especially by running water).

Generic synonyms: Place, Spot, Topographic Point

2. Verb. Examine minutely. "The men scour for animals in the area"; "The police scoured the country for the fugitive"
Generic synonyms: Look For, Search, Seek
Derivative terms: Scouring

3. Verb. Clean with hard rubbing. "The chefs scour the vegetables"; "She scrubbed his back"
Exact synonyms: Scrub
Generic synonyms: Rub
Specialized synonyms: Holystone
Derivative terms: Scourer, Scouring, Scrub, Scrubber, Scrubber, Scrubbing

4. Verb. Rub hard or scrub. "Scour the counter tops"
Exact synonyms: Abrade
Generic synonyms: Rub
Derivative terms: Abrader, Abrasive

5. Verb. Rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid. "Purge the old gas tank"
Exact synonyms: Flush, Purge
Generic synonyms: Rinse, Rinse Off
Derivative terms: Purge

Definition of Scour

1. v. t. To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease, dirt, etc., as articles of dress.

2. v. i. To clean anything by rubbing.

3. n. Diarrhœa or dysentery among cattle.

4. v. t. To cleanse or clear, as by a current of water; to flush.

5. n. The act of scouring.

Definition of Scour

1. Verb. To clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously. ¹

2. Verb. To search an area thoroughly. ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive veterinary medicine) Of livestock, to suffer from diarrhea. ¹

4. Verb. To move swiftly. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Scour

1. to cleanse or polish by hard rubbing [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Scour

1. 1. To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease, dirt, etc, as articles of dress. 2. To purge; as, to scour a horse. 3. To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off; to carry away or remove, as by a current of water; often with off or away. "[I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask, Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it." (Shak) 4. [Perhaps a different word; cf. OF. Escorre, escourre, It. Scorrere, both fr. L. Excurrere to run forth. Cf. Excursion] To pass swiftly over; to brush along; to traverse or search thoroughly; as, to scour the coast. "Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain." (Pope) Scouring barrel, a tumbling barrel. See Tumbling. Scouring cinder, a basic slag, which attacks the lining of a shaft furnace. Scouring rush. A kind of fulling mill. Origin: Akin to LG. Schuren, D. Schuren, schueren, G. Scheuern, Dan. Skure; Sw. Skura; all possibly fr. LL. Escurare, fr. L. Ex + curare to take care. Cf. Cure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Scour

scouged
scough
scouging
scougs
scould
scoundrel
scoundreldom
scoundrelism
scoundrelly
scoundrelry
scoundrels
scoup
scouped
scouping
scoups
scour (current term)
scourable
scourage
scourages
scoured
scourer
scourer pad
scourer pads
scourers
scourge
scourged
scourger
scourgers
scourges
scourgest

Literary usage of Scour

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. English Usage: Studies in the History and Uses of English Words and Phrases by John Lesslie Hall (1917)
"scour in the meaning of '' search'' is found in the literature and heard in ... This use of scour is recognized by the Century Dictionary, quoting Pope and ..."

2. River and Canal Engineering: The Characteristics of Open Flowing Streams by Edward Skelton Bellasis (1913)
"The protection of banks from scour is considered in CHAP. VI. ... Production of scour or Reduction of Silting.— Sometimes the silt on the bed of a stream is ..."

3. The Improvement of Rivers: A Treatise on the Methods Employed for Improving by Benjamin Franklin Thomas, David Alexander Watt (1913)
"If it is made too great, the water will scour too much and there will result a lowering of the water in the pool above, accompanied by a steepening of the ..."

4. Handbook for Highway Engineers: Containing Information Ordinarily Used in by Wilson Gardner Harger, Edmund Arnold Bonney (1919)
"scour. — scour is produced in different soils at approximately the following stream velocities. Loam . ... 5 to 6 " " " Riprap protection reduces scour. ..."

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