scour
/ˈskaʊɚ/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.97 in modern English
Meaning
verb
To clean, polish, or wash (something) by rubbing and scrubbing it vigorously, frequently with an abrasive or cleaning agent.
Transitive verb
verb
To remove debris and dirt (from something) by purging; to sweep along or off by a current of water.
Transitive verb
verb
To clear the digestive tract (of an animal) by administering medication that induces defecation or vomiting; to purge.
Transitive verb
verb
To (cause livestock to) suffer from diarrhoea or dysentery.
noun
A place scoured out by running water, as in the bed of a stream below a waterfall.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A place where wool is washed to remove grease and impurities prior to processing.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "He scoured the burnt food from the pan."
- "If tranſcribers and printers, or editors, will be perpetually varying from the ſpelling of their author, we ſhall neceſſarily have a conſtant ſource of corruption: for by this alteration, which inſenſibly goes on from ſmaller to greater things, that antique caſt is loſt, which of itſelf carries ſo venerable an aſpect; and our modern editors, in this reſpect, reſemble the officious ſervant of the late learned antiquary Dr. Woodward, who in ſcowering off the ruſt from an old ſhield, which his maſter had juſt purchaſed, made it more reſemble the new ſcowered cover of an old kettle, than the ſhield of an ancient heroe."
- "They all looked directly at the ſcullion,—the ſcullion had juſt been ſcouring a fiſh-kettle."
- "A light brown sand, of an exceeding fine grain, almost impalpable, from the river Sullane, near New-bridge, where it is found in plenty. It scours brass without scratching, cleans silver, and is excellent for casting the finer works, both of the brazier and silversmith."
- "There were the tawny rocks, like lions couchant, defying the ocean, whose waves incessantly dashed against and scoured them with vast quantities of gravel."
- "I will redeeme all this on Percies head, / And in the cloſing of ſome glorious day / Be bold to tell you that I am your ſonne, / When I will weare a garment all of bloud, / And ſtaine my fauors in a bloudy maske, / Which waſht away ſhall ſcoure my ſhame with it, […]"
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: scouren, scuren, escurer, scūrō, *kʷeys-, skýra
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈskaʊɚ/
- British English: /ˈskaʊə/