scour

¹ American  

[skou^uhr, skou-er] / skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər /

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.

   Synonyms:

   rub, shine, buff, burnish

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).

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verb (used without object)

1. to rub a surface in order to cleanse or polish it.

2. to remove dirt, grease, etc.

3. to become clean and shiny.

4. to be capable of being cleaned by rubbing.

   The roasting pan scours easily.

5. (of a plow, cultivator, etc.) to pass through the ground without soil clinging to the blade.

6. (of a plow, shovel, etc.) to become polished from use.

noun

1. the act of scouring.

2. the place scoured.

3. an apparatus or material used in scouring; scourer.

   Sand is a good scour.

4. the erosive force of moving water, as in a river or sea.

5. (used with a singular or plural verb) Usually scours. diarrhea in horses and cattle caused by intestinal infection.

scour ² American  

[skou^uhr, skou-er] / skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to range over, as in a search.

   They scoured the countryside for the lost child.

   Synonyms:

   ransack, rake, hunt, comb

2. to run or pass quickly over or along.

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verb (used without object)

1. to range about, as in search of something.

2. to move rapidly or energetically.

scour ¹ British  

/ skaʊə /

verb

1. to clean or polish (a surface) by washing and rubbing, as with an abrasive cloth

2. to remove dirt from or have the dirt removed from

3. (tr) to clear (a channel) by the force of water; flush

4. (tr) to remove by or as if by rubbing

5. (intr) (of livestock, esp cattle) to have diarrhoea

6. (tr) to cause (livestock) to purge their bowels

7. (tr) to wash (wool) to remove wax, suint, and other impurities

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noun

1. the act of scouring

2. the place scoured, esp by running water

3. something that scours, such as a cleansing agent

4. (often plural) prolonged diarrhoea in livestock, esp cattle

scour ² British  

/ skaʊə /

verb

1. to range over (territory), as in making a search

2. to move swiftly or energetically over (territory)

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Other Word Forms

• scourer noun

Etymology

Origin of scour¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb scoure(n), score(n), from Middle Dutch sc(h)ūren, Middle Low German schüren, from Old French escurer (compare Medieval Latin escūrāre ), from Latin excūrāre “to take good care of,” equivalent to ex- ¹ + cūrāre “to care for”; cure ( def. )

Origin of scour²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English scouren, scure; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old Norse skūr “storm, shower, shower of missles”; perhaps from Old French ecsour(r)e, escorir “to rush out or forth,” from Latin excurrere

Example Sentences

It is unclear whether U.S. air power, used to scour the Iranian coastline along the strait, would be enough to provide relief.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

But many viewers interpreted the spot not as a feel-good story about pets but as a peek into a world where your doorbell camera can be used to scour video across neighborhoods and beyond.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

We do think for ourselves and so we scour the movie for flaws that will justify the urge to roll our eyes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

The death toll from a mall fire in Pakistan's biggest city rose to at least 55 people, as emergency workers scour the building's charred remains for more victims.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

I scour the files for a third time.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

Related Words

• comb
• ransack
• rummage