scour
word
Definition
To clean something very thoroughly by rubbing it hard, or to search an area, place, or document very carefully to find something.
Usage & Nuances
'Scour' is formal when used for searching and a little less common in everyday speech. For cleaning, it's often about tough stains (e.g., 'scour a pan'). Collocates with 'the area', 'records', 'the internet'. Not used for gentle or quick search; more intense and focused.
Spanish: fregar - recorrer en busca dePortuguese (BR): esfregar - vasculharPortuguese (PT): esfregar - vasculharChinese (Simplified): 擦洗 - 搜寻Chinese (Traditional): 擦洗 - 搜尋Hindi: खंगालना - रगड़नाArabic: تفحّص - حكّ
Example Sentences
I need to scour the pot because it is burnt.
basic
We will scour the park for your lost keys.
basic
She used soap to scour the dirty floor.
basic
We scoured the internet for the best deals on flights.
natural
The detectives scoured the crime scene for evidence.
natural
After dinner, he stayed to scour the stubborn stains off the plates.
natural