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scour

 - 8 dictionary results

scour

1  [skouuhr, skou-er]
Use scour in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. 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.
2. to remove (dirt, grease, etc.) from something by hard rubbing: to scour grease from pots and pans.
3. to clear or dig out (a channel, drain, etc.) as by the force of water, by removing debris, etc.
4. to purge thoroughly, as an animal.
5. to clear or rid of what is undesirable: to scour the nation of spies.
6. to remove by or as if by cleansing; get rid of.
7. to clean or rid of debris, impurities, etc., by or as if by washing, as cotton or wool.
8. Metallurgy. (of the contents of a blast furnace) to rub against and corrode (the refractory lining).
–verb (used without object)
9. to rub a surface in order to cleanse or polish it.
10. to remove dirt, grease, etc.
11. to become clean and shiny.
12. to be capable of being cleaned by rubbing: The roasting pan scours easily.
13. (of a plow, cultivator, etc.) to pass through the ground without soil clinging to the blade.
14. (of a plow, shovel, etc.) to become polished from use.
–noun
15. the act of scouring.
16. the place scoured.
17. an apparatus or material used in scouring; scourer: Sand is a good scour.
18. the erosive force of moving water, as in a river or sea.
19. Usually, scours. (used with a singular or plural verb) Veterinary Pathology. diarrhea in horses and cattle caused by intestinal infection.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME scouren (v.) < MD scūren < OF escurer < L excūrāre to take care of (ML escūrāre to clean), equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + cūrāre to care for

Synonyms:
1. burnish, buff, shine, rub.

scour

2  [skouuhr, skou-er]
–verb (used with object)
1. to range over, as in a search: They scoured the countryside for the lost child.
2. to run or pass quickly over or along.
–verb (used without object)
3. to range about, as in search of something.
4. to move rapidly or energetically.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME scouren; perh. < ON skūr shower 1

Synonyms:
1. comb, rake, scan.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To scour
scour 1   (skour)   
v.   scoured, scour·ing, scours

v.   tr.

    1. To clean, polish, or wash by scrubbing vigorously: scour a dirty oven.

    2. To remove by scrubbing: scour grease from a pan.

  2. To remove dirt or grease from (cloth or fibers) by means of a detergent.

  3. To clean (wheat) before the milling process.

  4. To clear (an area) by freeing of weeds or other vegetation.

  5. To clear (a channel or pipe) by flushing.

v.   intr.

  1. To scrub something in order to clean or polish it.

  2. To have diarrhea. Used of livestock.

n.  

  1. A scouring action or effect.

  2. A place that has been scoured, as by flushing with water.

  3. A cleansing agent for wool.

  4. scours (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Diarrhea in livestock.


[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).]
scour'er n.
scour 2   (skour)   
v.   scoured, scour·ing, scours

v.   tr.

  1. To search through or over thoroughly: The detective scoured the scene of the crime for clues.

  2. To range over (an area) quickly and energetically.

v.   intr.

  1. To range over or about an area, especially in a search.

  2. To move swiftly; scurry.


[Middle English scouren, to move swiftly, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skūr, shower.]
scour'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

scour  (1)
"cleanse by rubbing," c.1300, from M.Du. scuren "to polish, clean," and from O.Fr. escurer, both from L.L. excurare "clean off," lit. "take good care of," from L. ex- "out" + curare "care for" (see cure). Possibly originally a technical term among Flemish workmen in England.

scour  (2)
"move quickly in search of something," 1297, probably from O.N. skyra "rush in," related to skur "storm, shower." Perhaps infl. by or blended with O.Fr. escorre "to run out," from L. excurrere (see excursion). Sense development probably infl. by scour (1).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1scour
Pronunciation: 'skau(&)r
Function: intransitive verb
of a domestic animal : to suffer from diarrhea or dysenteryscour>

Main Entry: 2scour
Function: noun
: diarrhea or dysentery occurring especially in young domestic animals —usually used in plural but sing. or plural inconstr.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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