scout

[ skout ]

/ skaʊt /

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See synonyms for: scout / scouting on Thesaurus.com

noun

a soldier, warship, airplane, etc., employed in reconnoitering.

a person sent out to obtain information.

Sports.

a person who observes and reports on the techniques, players, etc., of opposing teams.
a person sent out by a team to observe and recommend new talent for recruitment.

a talent scout, as in the entertainment field.

an act or instance of reconnoitering, inspecting, observing, etc.

Sometimes Scout . a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.

Informal. a person: He's a good scout.

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

verb (used without object)

to act as a scout; reconnoiter.

to make a search; hunt.

to work as a talent scout.

verb (used with object)

to examine, inspect, or observe for the purpose of obtaining information; reconnoiter: to scout the enemy's defenses.

to seek; search for (usually followed by out or up): to scout up a date for Friday night.

to find by seeking, searching, or looking (usually followed by out or up): Scout out a good book for me to read.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of scout

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; see origin at auscultation

Words nearby scout

scourge, scouring pad, scouring rush, scourings, scouse, scout, scout car, scoutcraft, scouter, scouth, scouthood

Other definitions for scout (2 of 2)

scout²

[ skout ]

/ skaʊt /

verb (used with object)

to treat with scorn; dismiss.

to make fun of; deride; mock.

verb (used without object)

to scoff; jeer.

Origin of scout

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scout in a sentence

It’s inexpensive enough to outfit an entire cub-scout troop, and even comes with three AA batteries.
Flashlights for emergency scenarios and outdoor fun|PopSci Commerce Team|August 27, 2020|Popular-Science
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.
Cleveland’s League-Leading Rotation Relies On Homegrown Talent … From A Single Draft|Travis Sawchik|August 25, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
These scout for infrared light — a type the human eye can’t see.
Developing planet emerges in a swirl of gas|Lisa Grossman|July 6, 2020|Science News For Students
Superconducting chips interface with those cavities and are used to perform operations on the qubits and scout for errors.
To live up to the hype, quantum computers must repair their error problems|Emily Conover|June 22, 2020|Science News

However, Ledbetter noted that “scouts have already been scouting these athletes for two years.”
NFL Decision to Stick to Draft Date May Penalize Some ‘Diamonds in the Rough’|Shirley Carswell|April 23, 2020|TruthBeTold.news
The brokers then scout out potential “crew members” who can earn substantial discounts for working the journey.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We did a movie down in Durango — Great Scout and Cat House Thursday.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
From there, he led groups of Kansa and Osage to scout for Spanish garrisons.
Those Kansas City Blues: A Family History|Katie Baker|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One was about Girl Scout cookies and the other was aptly titled, “I Love It.”
Is John Mulaney the Next Seinfeld?|Kevin Fallon|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Boy Scout that a people thought they knew does not exist.
The Religious Right's 'Nice Guy' Who Threw His Wife Under the Bus|Patricia Murphy|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"You must promise never again to leave without permission, or this is your last scout with me," said Harry, sternly.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
So whilst we was eatin' breakfast I begins t' quiz, an', one way an' another, lets on I wanted t' see that Injun scout.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
The periscope is the one part of the submarine scout equipment that is open to vision from the surface.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
I can imagine a scout standing here sending up smoke signals.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
Cousin was there, seated and his head bowed on his chest, a waiting victim for the first Indian scout who might happen along.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter

British Dictionary definitions for scout (1 of 3)

scout¹

/ (skaʊt) /

noun

a person, ship, or aircraft sent out to gain information

military a person or unit despatched to reconnoitre the position of the enemy

sport a person employed by a club to seek new players

the act or an instance of scouting

(esp at Oxford University) a college servantCompare gyp 3

obsolete (in Britain) a patrolman of a motoring organization

informal a fellow or companion

verb

to examine or observe (anything) in order to obtain information

(tr; sometimes foll by out or up) to seek

(intr) to act as a scout for a sports club

(intr; foll by about or around) to go in search (for)

Derived forms of scout

scouter, noun

Word Origin for scout

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

British Dictionary definitions for scout (2 of 3)

scout²

/ (skaʊt) /

verb

archaic to reject (a person or thing) with contempt

Word Origin for scout

C17: from Old Norse skūta derision

British Dictionary definitions for scout (3 of 3)

Scout

/ (skaʊt) /

noun

(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 responsibilitySee also Air Scout, Girl Scout, Guide, Sea Scout, Venture Scout

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with scout

scout

see good egg (scout).

scout

Origin of scout

Words nearby scout

Other definitions for scout (2 of 2)

Origin of scout

Words related to scout

How to use scout in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scout (1 of 3)

Derived forms of scout

Word Origin for scout

British Dictionary definitions for scout (2 of 3)

Word Origin for scout

British Dictionary definitions for scout (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with scout