Definition

The act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush, soap, and water.

Example

After a long day of scouring the kitchen, she finally saw the shine on the countertops.

Conversation

I spent the whole weekend scouring the garage for old tools.

That sounds like a big job! Did you find anything useful?

Yeah, I found some great stuff, but the scouring was exhausting.

I can imagine! At least you got some organization done, right?

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To clean or search thoroughly, often by rubbing or scrubbing.

Example

She was scouring the kitchen for the missing ingredient.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I spent all afternoon scouring the internet for new recipes.

That sounds fun! Did you find anything good?

Yeah, I found a great one for homemade pasta!

Root Explanation

Scouring is derived from the Old French word 'escourir' (meaning to clean or to scour) and the root 'cūr' (meaning to care for or to take care of). The word 'scouring' refers to the act of cleaning or scrubbing something thoroughly, often to remove dirt or impurities.

Memory Tip

Imagine the act of 'cleaning' ('escourir') something with great care ('cūr') — that's why scouring means to clean something thoroughly.

Visually Confused Words