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scour

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To scour is defined as to clean or polish, often by hard scrubbing, or to get rid of something negative.

(verb)

An example of to scour is to clean out a greasy pot.
An example of to scour is to get rid of fleas in a home.

See scour in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to clean or polish by vigorous rubbing, as with abrasives, soap and water, etc.; make clean and bright
to remove dirt and grease from (wool, etc.)
1. to wash or clear as by a swift current of water; flush
2. to wash away, or remove in this way
to clear the intestines of; purge
to clean (wheat)
to remove as if by cleaning; sweep away; get rid of

Origin: ME scouren < MDu scuren < ? OFr escurer < VL *excurare, to take great care of < L ex-, intens. + curare, to take care of < cura, care

intransitive verb

to clean things by vigorous rubbing and polishing
to become clean and bright by being scoured

noun

the act of scouring
a cleansing agent used in scouring
a scoured place, as a part of a channel where mud has been washed away
dysentery in cattle, etc.

Related Forms:

scourer noun

transitive verb

to pass over quickly, or range over or through, as in search or pursuit: to scour a town for an escaped convict

Origin: ME scouren < ? OFr escourre, to run forth < VL *excurrere < L ex-, out + currere, to run

intransitive verb

to run or range about, as in search or pursuit

Related Forms:

scourer noun

See scour in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb scoured, scour·ing, scours

verb, transitive

a. To clean, polish, or wash by scrubbing vigorously: scour a dirty oven.
b. To remove by scrubbing: scour grease from a pan.
To remove dirt or grease from (cloth or fibers) by means of a detergent.
To clean (wheat) before the milling process.
To clear (an area) by freeing of weeds or other vegetation.
To clear (a channel or pipe) by flushing.

verb, intransitive