释义 |
scour I. \ˈskau̇(ə)r, -au̇ə\ verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English scuren, scouren, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish skura to rush intransitive verb 1. a. : to hurry about in search of something < scoured over the hillside for kindling > b. : to move rapidly : rush < wild as a hare … scoured thro' the heather — Hilary Corke > < scoured on my way with more speed than before — George Borrow > 2. obsolete : to roister violently through the streets transitive verb 1. a. : to move rapidly through (a region or area) < each bishop was a missionary … scouring the surrounding districts — G.G.Coulton > b. : to range usually rapidly through (a region or area) in search of something < scoured the town in vain for more yellow roses — Edith Wharton > < scoured Europe in search of cheap labor — American Guide Series: Massachusetts > c. : to make a thorough examination or search of < scoured all the official documents and wrote his novel > 2. obsolete : to subject to rough treatment while roistering Synonyms: see seek II. noun (-s) : rapid motion : rush < the white-hot scour of racing gases — J.N.Leonard > III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English scouren, probably from Middle Dutch schuren, from Old French escurer, from Late Latin excurare to clean off, from Latin ex- + curare to care for, cleanse — more at cure transitive verb 1. a. : to rub hard especially with a rough material for the purpose of cleansing : make clean and bright by friction and washing < scoured the pans until they gleamed > b. : to remove by rubbing hard and washing < scoured the stains off with strong soap > c. : to take the flesh from (a hide) by rubbing 2. archaic : to make (a region or area) free (as from undesired occupants) : rid < scour me this famous realm of enemies — Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher > 3. : to clean by purging : purge 4. obsolete : beat, punish < I will pay the dog, I will scour him — Henry Fielding > 5. : to clear (as a pipe or ditch) by removing dirt and debris 6. : to cleanse from natural impurities or processing liquids; especially : to cleanse (raw wool) by washing 7. archaic : to rake with gunfire 8. : to remove as if by rubbing or cleaning; especially : to carry off (as by a flood) < the tide enters far up each channel scouring out mud and sand — Charles Lyell > 9. a. : to clear or dig by a powerful current of water < at time of flood the stream may break across and scour out a channel through the narrow neck between adjacent meanders — C.A.Cotton > b. : to wear away (as by water, ice, or wind) : erode < was born of lean land but raised on newer better soils before they were wracked and scoured — Russell Lord > < the tops of hills and level places where there was only a small amount of mantlerock were scoured by the continental glaciers — E.B.Branson & W.A.Tarr > 10. : to free (grain) from dust, loose bran, and other wastes by blowing while rubbing against a rough surface intransitive verb 1. : to perform a process of scouring < scoured at rusted spots — Monsanto Magazine > 2. : to suffer from diarrhea or dysentery : purge 3. a. : to pass through the ground in soil tillage without any soil clinging to the smooth blade of the cultivating implement < this plow scours well > b. : to become polished when in contact with the soil IV. noun (-s) 1. : a place scoured by running water 2. a. : the scouring action of a current of water or a glacier b. (1) : an artificial current of water that is used to remove mud or other deposit from the bed of a stream (2) : an engineering structure built to produce such a current 3. Scotland : a hearty swig 4. : diarrhea, dysentery — usually used in plural but sing. or plural in constr. 5. : scouring |