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View synonyms for scout

scout

1

[ skout ]

noun

  1. a soldier, warship, airplane, etc., employed in reconnoitering.
  2. a person sent out to obtain information.
  3. Sports.
    1. a person who observes and reports on the techniques, players, etc., of opposing teams.
    2. 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 Scout. a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.
  7. Informal. a person:

    He's a good scout.

  8. a man acting as servant to a student at Oxford University.


verb (used without object)

  1. to act as a scout; reconnoiter.
  2. to make a search; hunt.
  3. to work as a talent scout.

verb (used with object)

  1. to examine, inspect, or observe for the purpose of obtaining information; reconnoiter:

    to scout the enemy's defenses.

  2. to seek; search for (usually followed by out or up ):

    to scout up a date for Friday night.

  3. to find by seeking, searching, or looking (usually followed by out or up ):

    Scout out a good book for me to read.

scout

2

[ skout ]

verb (used with object)

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

verb (used without object)

  1. to scoff; jeer.

scout

1

/ skaʊt /

noun

  1. a person, ship, or aircraft sent out to gain information
  2. military a person or unit despatched to reconnoitre the position of the enemy
  3. sport a person employed by a club to seek new players
  4. the act or an instance of scouting
  5. See gyp
    (esp at Oxford University) a college servant Compare gyp 3
  6. obsolete.
    (in Britain) a patrolman of a motoring organization
  7. informal.
    a fellow or companion


verb

  1. to examine or observe (anything) in order to obtain information
  2. tr; sometimes foll by out or up to seek
  3. intr to act as a scout for a sports club
  4. intr; foll by about or around to go in search (for)

scout

2

/ skaʊt /

verb

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

Scout

3

/ skaʊt /

noun

  1. sometimes not capital a boy or (in some countries) a girl who is a member of a worldwide movement (the Scout Association ) founded as the Boy Scouts in England in 1908 by Lord Baden-Powell with the aim of developing character and responsibility See also Air Scout Girl Scout Guide Sea Scout Venture Scout

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Derived Forms

  • ˈscouter, noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of scout1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb scouten. skowten, from Old French escouter, escolter, ascolter ( French écouter “to listen”) from Late Latin ascultāre, Latin auscultāre “to listen, listen to”; Middle English noun scoute-, from Old French escoute, derivative of escouter; auscultation

Origin of scout2

First recorded in 1595–1605; perhaps from Old Norse skūta, skūti “abuse, taunting”; shout

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Word History and Origins

Origin of scout1

C14: from Old French ascouter to listen to, from Latin auscultāre to auscultate

Origin of scout2

C17: from Old Norse skūta derision

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Idioms and Phrases

see good egg (scout) .

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Example Sentences

It’s inexpensive enough to outfit an entire cub-scout troop, and even comes with three AA batteries.

Grant said that as Cleveland scouts spoke with Civale in college, they came away impressed with how the CAA All-Academic standout at Northeastern University could recall every pitch from his recent starts.

These scout for infrared light — a type the human eye can’t see.

Superconducting chips interface with those cavities and are used to perform operations on the qubits and scout for errors.

However, Ledbetter noted that “scouts have already been scouting these athletes for two years.”

The brokers then scout out potential “crew members” who can earn substantial discounts for working the journey.

We did a movie down in Durango — Great Scout and Cat House Thursday.

From there, he led groups of Kansa and Osage to scout for Spanish garrisons.

One was about Girl Scout cookies and the other was aptly titled, “I Love It.”

The Boy Scout that a people thought they knew does not exist.

"You must promise never again to leave without permission, or this is your last scout with me," said Harry, sternly.

So whilst we was eatin' breakfast I begins t' quiz, an', one way an' another, lets on I wanted t' see that Injun scout.

The periscope is the one part of the submarine scout equipment that is open to vision from the surface.

I can imagine a scout standing here sending up smoke signals.

Cousin was there, seated and his head bowed on his chest, a waiting victim for the first Indian scout who might happen along.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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