scour

I

[[t]skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər[/t]]

v.

1) to cleanse or polish by hard rubbing, as with an abrasive material

2) to remove (dirt, grease, etc.) from something by hard rubbing

3) civ to clear or dig out (a channel, drain, etc.), as by the force of water

4) to purge thoroughly, as an animal

5) to clear or rid of what is undesirable

6) to remove by or as if by cleansing; get rid of

7) tex to clean or rid of debris, impurities, etc., by or as if by washing, as cotton or wool

8) to cleanse or polish a surface by hard rubbing

9) to become clean and shiny when scoured

10) the act of scouring

11) the place scoured

12) an implement or preparation used in scouring

13) geo the erosive force of moving water

14) vet Usu., scours. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) diarrhea in horses and cattle caused by intestinal infection

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Etymology: 1250–1300; ME (v.) < MD scūren < OF escurer < L excūrāre to take care of (ML escūrāre to clean) scour′er, n. II

scour

[[t]skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər[/t]] v.

1) to range over, as in search:

to scour the countryside for a lost child[/ex]

2) to run or pass quickly over or along

3) to range about, as in search of something

4) to move rapidly or energetically

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Etymology: 1250–1300; ME, appar. v. der. ofscour, in phrasegod scourquickly scour′er, n.