/ ˈskaʊə(r); NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
scour sth (for sb/sth) to search a place or thing thoroughly in order to find sb/sth
SYN comb :
We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent.
2.
scour sth (out) to clean sth by rubbing its surface hard with rough material :
I had to scour out the pans.
3.
scour sth (away / out) | scour sth (from / out of sth) to make a passage, hole, or mark in the ground, rocks, etc. as the result of movement, especially over a long period :
The water had raced down the slope and scoured out the bed of a stream.
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 2 to 3 Middle English : from Middle Dutch , Middle Low German schūren , from Old French escurer , from late Latin excurare clean (off), from ex- away + curare to clean.
sense 1 late Middle English : related to obsolete scour moving hastily , of unknown origin.