1. (

• scouring ,

) moving over territory to search for something; "scouring the entire area revealed nothing" ;

2. (

• scrub ,
• scrubbing ,
• scouring

) the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water ;

1. (

• scour ,

) examine minutely; "The police scoured the country for the fugitive" ;

2. (

• scrub ,
• scour ,

) clean with hard rubbing; "She scrubbed his back" ;

3. (

• scour ,
• abrade ,

) rub hard or scrub; "scour the counter tops" ;

4. (

• flush ,
• scour ,
• purge ,

) rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid; "flush the wound with antibiotics"; "purge the old gas tank" ;