to scour
Third Person
scours
Present Participle
scouring
Past Tense
scoured
Past Participle
scoured
1
to clean something thoroughly by scrubbing it hard with a rough or tough material
transitive
- She scoured the pots and pans to remove the stuck-on food.
- The maid scoured the bathtub with a strong cleaner to remove soap scum.
- He scoured the grill grates with a wire brush to remove burnt residue.
- Before painting, he scoured the walls to remove any dirt or grease.
- The hiker scoured his boots with a brush to remove mud from the trail.
Synonyms:
2
to conduct a thorough search of a place, text, or area in order to find something
transitive
- The police scoured the neighborhood for any signs of the missing person.
- He scoured the library shelves for the rare book he needed.
- She scoured the report for any errors before submitting it.
- They scoured the internet for information about the lost city.
- He scoured the old records in search of his family’s history.
3
to wash or clear something by using a swift current of water
transitive
- The river scoured the rocks, leaving them smooth and shiny.
- The flood scoured the fields, removing layers of mud.
- The heavy rain scoured the streets, washing away the debris.
- The rapid flow of water scoured the bank, eroding the soil.
- The floodwaters scoured the valley, clearing out the fallen trees.
4
to remove dirt or unwanted matter by vigorous rubbing
transitive
- He scoured the rust from the metal parts with a wire brush.
- She scoured the dirt off the clothes with a powerful detergent.
- She scoured the stains out of the carpet with a scrubbing sponge.
- He scoured the mud from his shoes after the hike.
- They scoured the dirt off the windowsills.
Synonyms: