scour

Fetched 2026-11-02 (live).

Synonyms: stour, sour, scout, cour, scur, scaur, scor, schur, scoug, scoup, srour

Antonyms: stour, sour, scout, cour, scur, scaur, scor, schur, scoug, scoup, srour

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Verb

To clean, polish, or wash (something) by rubbing and scrubbing it vigorously, frequently with an abrasive or cleaning agent.
- He scoured the burnt food from the pan.
To remove debris and dirt (from something) by purging; to sweep along or off by a current of water.
To clear the digestive tract (of an animal) by administering medication that induces defecation or vomiting; to purge.
- to scour a horse
To (cause livestock to) suffer from diarrhoea or dysentery.
- If a lamb is scouring, do not delay treatment.
To cleanse (something) without rubbing.

The removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.
- Bridge scour may scoop out scour holes and compromise the integrity of the structure.
A place scoured out by running water, as in the bed of a stream below a waterfall.
A place where wool is washed to remove grease and impurities prior to processing.
Diarrhoea, in livestock; scouring.

To search an area thoroughly.
- They scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
- A search engine will scour the web for you.
To run with speed; to scurry.
To move swiftly over; to brush along.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.