scour

/'skauə/

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Explanation of "Scour"

Definition:
The word "scour" can be used as both a verb and a noun.

Usage Instructions:

• When using "scour" as a verb, you may pair it with objects like "kitchen counter," "wound," or "bathroom tiles."
• When using it to indicate a search, you can say "scour the area" or "scour the country."

Examples:

• Cleaning: "She scoured the pots and pans until they were shiny."
• Searching: "The police scoured the city for clues about the missing person."

Advanced Usage:

• You can use "scour" in more complex sentences, such as: "After the storm, volunteers scoured the beach to remove debris and clean up the area."
• In a figurative sense, "scour" can be used to describe an intense search: "The researchers scoured through numerous studies to find relevant information."

Word Variants:

• Scouring (noun): The action of cleaning or searching.
• Scoured (past tense): Indicates that the action has been completed.
• Scourer (noun): A tool or person that scours.

Different Meanings:

• Scour (in nature): Refers to the process where water erodes land or surfaces, creating a smoother area, like when a river scours its banks.

Synonyms:

• For cleaning: scrub, wash, clean, rub, polish.
• For searching: search, hunt, explore, sift through.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Scour out: To clean thoroughly by scrubbing. Example: "I need to scour out the old refrigerator."
• Scour for: To look for something carefully. Example: "He scoured for information on the internet."

Conclusion:

"Scour" is a versatile word that can mean both cleaning thoroughly and searching meticulously.

Academic

Noun

1. a place that is scoured (especially by running water)

Verb

1. rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid
   • flush the wound with antibiotics
   • purge the old gas tank
2. rub hard or scrub
   • scour the counter tops
3. clean with hard rubbing
   • She scrubbed his back
4. examine minutely
   • The police scoured the country for the fugitive

Synonyms

• flush
• purge
• abrade
• scrub