scour

Related to scour: thesaurus

scour (something or some place) for (someone or something)

To search thoroughly inside of or all around some place or thing for someone or something. I've been scouring the internet for information about this strange new app my kids are using. We scoured the warehouse for evidence, but we couldn't find anything that would hold up in court.
See also: scour

scour (something) off of (something else)

To remove something off of someone or something else with vigorous scrubbing, especially by using a very abrasive brush or cleaning pad. You'll need to scour the dirt off the potatoes before you start boiling them. I spent the whole day scouring rust off of the fence around our property.
See also: of, off, scour

scour (something) out of (something else)

To remove something out of something else with vigorous scrubbing, especially by using a very abrasive brush or cleaning pad. I spent nearly an hour trying to scour the dried paint out of the cups, but I just couldn't get it all out. Take this wire brush and scour the rust out of the rims of the wheels.
See also: of, out, scour

scour off

To remove something (off of someone or something else) with vigorous scrubbing, especially by using a very abrasive brush or cleaning pad. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scour" and "off." You'll need to scour off the dirt before you start boiling the potatoes. I spent the whole day scouring rust off the fence around our property.
See also: off, scour

scour out

1. To remove something out of something else with vigorous scrubbing, especially by using a very abrasive brush or cleaning pad. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scour" and "out." I spent nearly an hour trying to scour the dried paint out of the cups, but I just couldn't get it all out. Take this wire brush and scour out the rust from the rims of the wheels.
2. To clean the inside of something with vigorous scrubbing, especially by using a very abrasive brush or cleaning pad. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scour" and "out." Let the saucepans soak overnight before you try to scour them out—it should make it easier. We should probably scour out the entire length of pipe to ensure the water can flow properly.
3. To search extensively or exhaustively for something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scour" and "out." I'm a vegan, so I spend half my time shopping trying to scour out the symbol telling me whether food is vegan friendly or not. I've been scouring a location out for our photo shoot.
See also: out, scour
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

scour something for someone or something

to look carefully and thoroughly in something for someone or something. I scoured the entire roster of members for a person who would agree to run for president. The police scoured the entire area for any sign of the suspects.
See also: scour

scour something off (of) something

 and scour something off
to clean something off something else by scouring. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) See if you can scour the rust off the cookie sheet. I will scour off the rust with steel wool.
See also: off, scour

scour something out

to clean something out by scouring. Would you scour the pans out? Please scour out the pans—don't just wash them.
See also: out, scour

scour something out of something

to clean something out of something by scouring. Did you scour the rust out of the pan? Please scour the burned material out of the bowl.
See also: of, out, scour
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • scour (something or some place) for (someone or something)
  • scour for
  • not stand the sight of (someone or something)
  • soak (someone or something) through
  • soak through
  • be no stranger to (something)
  • be no/a stranger to something
  • no stranger to (something)
  • be swept off (one's) feet
  • hold the key
References in periodicals archive
Roy and Matin [16] experimentally investigated the behavior of scour at floodplain and main channel using three bed materials with three discharges and four length-width ratios.
Turbulence model sensitivity and scour gap effect of unsteady flow around pipe: a CFD study
Caption: The Hydraulic Toolbox's scour calculator can produce a scour profile plot like this one of components as well as total scour.
Assisting Practitioners with Hydraulic Design
Based on the measurement in 2003, the USGS rated a peak discharge of 385m3/s which corresponded with a bank-full flow and found approximately 1.8 m of local scour at the bridge foundation.
Reproducing Field Measurements Using Scaled-Down Hydraulic Model Studies in a Laboratory
Over the past decades many researchers studying the local scour ([d.sub.s]) at bridge piers and variety predictive formulas was developed based on laboratory and field observations, such as Laursen and Toch [2], Jain and Fischer [3], Melville [4], Rui et al.
Modeling of local scour depth around bridge piers using artificial neural network
Observing the 50 years scour condition, the river regime of pipe crossing region is stable; a deep groove (-15m) in the north bank varies a lot over the years, and the south bank keeps slightly stagnant.
Engineering innovation of a length of nearly 3300m large diameter pipeline installed by HDD
Reduction of local scour around bridge piers using slots and collars.
The effect of slot on scouring around spur dike at 180 degree bend
Many researchers have tried to estimate the scour depths around bridge piers by simulating the bridge model with the consideration of various factors, such as depth of water, average velocity of flow, and diameter of sand (Dargahi 1990; Firat, Gungor 2009; Johnson, Dock 1998; Johnson, Niezgoda 2004; Melville, Raudkivi 1996; Yanmaz, Altinbilek 1991).
Web-based real time bridge scour monitoring system for disaster management/Internetines prieigos tilto isplovimo stebejimo realiuoju laiku sistema stichinems nelaimemes valdyti/Tiltu upes gultnes izraisitu katastrofu parvaldibas monitoringa sistema reala laika interneta/Silla uhtumise internetipohine reaalajas jargimise susteem katastroofide ennetamiseks
Flow altering devices that have been used to protect piers against local scour include sacrificial piles placed upstream of the pier, Iowa vanes, and flow deflectors such collars and slots [18].
Reducing local scouring at bridge piles using collars and geobags
Tim Bland, project manager for Teesside Offshore Wind Farm, said: "Scour protection of the turbine foundations is a fundamental and important engineering requirement for the project to ensure the stability of the structures.
Turbines could lead to a wildlife boost
A contract to provide scour protection has been awarded to the Dutch company Tideway BV, which will operate out of the port of Barrow in Cumbria, and will use rock sourced from the north west of England.
Windfarm works to start on seabed
* Adult animals are the most important source of causal organisms for the calf scour; therefore it is best to remove the calves from the dam and the main herd immediately after birth (if weaning is practiced in the herd).
Managing calf scours--a herd health approach
Scour is the erosion of foundation soils around or under bridge abutments and piers > caused by water action.
A new bridge and a protected bridge to fill towns' needs: engineering firm tackles sensitive design issues
International Conference on Scour and Erosion (5th: 2010: San Francisco, California) Ed.
Scour and erosion; proceedings