Scour vs. Search — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Scour implies a thorough and exhaustive search; Search means to look for or seek something.
Difference Between Scour and Search
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Scour typically conveys a sense of urgency, intensity, or thoroughness. When one scours, they look extensively and meticulously. On the other hand, Search, while still a method of looking for something, might not necessarily imply the same depth or urgency.
While Scour often relates to cleaning by scrubbing vigorously or looking through a place thoroughly to find something, Search simply involves trying to find someone or something by looking carefully.
For instance, you'd Scour a kitchen to remove tough stains or Scour a document for a specific detail. You'd Search a room for your lost keys or Search the internet for information.
The intensity differentiates the two terms. To Scour is to be exhaustive in one's effort, leaving no stone unturned. To Search, however, might be more casual or general, without the expectation of being comprehensive.
In summary, both Scour and Search pertain to the act of looking. Yet, Scour is more intensive and thorough, while Search can be broader and less exhaustive.
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Comparison Chart
Intensity
More intensive and thorough
Can be general or specific
Usage Context
Often used in cleaning contexts
Commonly used in locating items or info
Duration
Implies a more extended effort
Duration can vary
Depth
Deep, exhaustive
Might not always be exhaustive
Associated Actions
Scrubbing, combing through
Looking, seeking
Compare with Definitions
Scour
To clean or polish by hard rubbing
I had to scour the pan to get rid of the burnt bits.
Search
To examine in seeking something
They searched the woods for the missing child.
Scour
To clean, polish, or wash by scrubbing vigorously
Scour a dirty oven.
Search
Try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly
I searched among the rocks, but there was nothing
Hugh will be searching for the truth
Daniel is then able to search out the most advantageous mortgage
Scour
To remove by scrubbing
Scour grease from a pan.
Search
An act of searching for someone or something
The police carried out a thorough search of the premises
He plans to go to the Himalayas in search of a yeti
Scour
To remove dirt or grease from (cloth or fibers) by means of a detergent.
Search
To move around in, go through, or look through in an effort to find something
Searched the room for her missing earring.
Searched the desk for a pen.
Scour
To clean (wheat) before the milling process.
Search
To make a careful examination or investigation of; probe
Search one's conscience for the right thing to do.
Scour
To clear (an area) by freeing of weeds or other vegetation.
Search
To seek data matching a word, phrase, or pattern of characters in
Searched the internet for information about ostriches.
Scour
To clear (a channel or pipe) by flushing.
Search
(Law) To examine (a person or property) for the purpose of discovering evidence of a crime.
Scour
To scrub something in order to clean or polish it.
Search
To search a place or space in order to find something
Searched all afternoon for my wallet.
Scour
To have diarrhea. Used of livestock.
Search
To make a careful examination or investigation
Searching for the right words to say.
Scour
To search through or over thoroughly
The detective scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
Search
To use a search engine or other software to find any data matching a particular pattern.
Scour
To range over (an area) quickly and energetically.
Search
(Law) To make a search for evidence.
Scour
To range over or about an area, especially in a search.
Search
An act of searching.
Scour
To move swiftly; scurry.
Search
(Law) The examination of a person or property, as by a law enforcement officer, for the purpose of discovering evidence of a crime.
Scour
A scouring action or effect.
Search
A control mechanism on an audio or video player that rapidly advances or reverses the playing of a recording.
Scour
A place that has been scoured, as by flushing with water.
Search
An attempt to find something.
With only five minutes until we were meant to leave, the search for the keys started in earnest.
Scour
A cleansing agent for wool.
Search
The act of searching in general.
Search is a hard problem for computers to solve efficiently.
Scour
Scours (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Diarrhea in livestock.
Search
(transitive) To look in (a place) for something.
I searched the garden for the keys and found them in the vegetable patch.
Scour
(transitive) To clean, polish, or wash (something) by rubbing and scrubbing it vigorously, frequently with an abrasive or cleaning agent.
He scoured the burnt food from the pan.
Search
To look thoroughly.
The police are searching for evidence in his flat.
Scour
(transitive) To remove debris and dirt (from something) by purging; to sweep along or off by a current of water.
Search
To look for, seek.
Scour
To clear the digestive tract (of an animal) by administering medication that induces defecation or vomiting; to purge.
To scour a horse
Search
To probe or examine (a wound).
Scour
To (cause livestock to) suffer from diarrhoea or dysentery.
If a lamb is scouring, do not delay treatment.
Search
(obsolete) To examine; to try; to put to the test.
Scour
To cleanse (something) without rubbing.
Search
To look over or through, for the purpose of finding something; to examine; to explore; as, to search the city.
They are come to search the house.
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Scour
(transitive) To search an area thoroughly.
They scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
Search
To inquire after; to look for; to seek.
I will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Enough is left besides to search and know.
Scour
(intransitive) To run with speed; to scurry.
Search
To examine or explore by feeling with an instrument; to probe; as, to search a wound.
Scour
(transitive) To move swiftly over; to brush along.
Search
To examine; to try; to put to the test.
Scour
The removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.
Bridge scour may scoop out scour holes and compromise the integrity of the structure.
Search
To seek; to look for something; to make inquiry, exploration, or examination; to hunt.
Once more search with me.
It sufficeth that they have once with care sifted the matter, and searched into all the particulars.
Scour
A place scoured out by running water, as in the bed of a stream below a waterfall.
Search
The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry; pursuit for finding something; examination.
Thus the orb he roamedWith narrow search, and with inspection deepConsidered every creature.
Nor did my search of liberty beginTill my black hairs were changed upon my chin.
Scour
A place where wool is washed to remove grease and impurities prior to processing.
Search
The activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
Scour
To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease, dirt, etc., as articles of dress.
Search
An investigation seeking answers;
A thorough search of the ledgers revealed nothing
The outcome justified the search
Scour
To purge; as, to scour a horse.
Search
An operation that determines whether one or more of a set of items has a specified property;
They wrote a program to do a table lookup
Scour
To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off; to carry away or remove, as by a current of water; - often with off or away.
[I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask,Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it.
Search
The examination of alternative hypotheses;
His search for a move that would avoid checkmate was unsuccessful
Scour
To pass swiftly over; to brush along; to traverse or search thoroughly; as, to scour the coast.
Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain.
Search
Boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas;
Right of search
Scour
To cleanse or clear, as by a current of water; to flush.
If my neighbor ought to scour a ditch.
Search
Try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of;
The police are searching for clues
They are searching for the missing man in the entire county
Scour
To clean anything by rubbing.
Search
Search or seek;
We looked all day and finally found the child in the forest
Look elsewhere for the perfect gift!
Scour
To cleanse anything.
Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better.
Search
Inquire into
Scour
To be purged freely; to have a diarrhœa.
Search
Subject to a search;
The police searched the suspect
We searched the whole house for the missing keys
Scour
To run swiftly; to rove or range in pursuit or search of something; to scamper.
So four fierce coursers, starting to the race,Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace.
Search
To look into or over carefully or thoroughly
She searched the room for her lost earrings.
Scour
Diarrhœa or dysentery among cattle.
Search
To look at or examine (a person, object, etc.) carefully
He searched the suspect for weapons.
Scour
The act of scouring.
Search
An act or instance of looking for someone or something
The search for knowledge never ends.
Scour
A place scoured out by running water, as in the bed of a stream below a fall.
If you catch the two sole denizens [trout] of a particular scour, you will find another pair installed in their place to-morrow.
Search
To explore or scan electronically
He searched the internet for the recipe.
Scour
A place that is scoured (especially by running water)
Scour
Examine minutely;
The police scoured the country for the fugitive
Scour
Clean with hard rubbing;
She scrubbed his back
Scour
Rub hard or scrub;
Scour the counter tops
Scour
Rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid;
Flush the wound with antibiotics
Purge the old gas tank
Scour
To search through thoroughly
She scoured the document for evidence.
Scour
To clear or rid of what is undesirable
He scoured the countryside for food.
Scour
To move about quickly especially in search
They scoured the city streets looking for shelter.
Scour
To become clean and shiny by rubbing
The old coin scoured up nicely.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to Scour a document?
It means to examine the document carefully and thoroughly for specific information.
How is Search different from Scour?
Search involves looking for something, while Scour implies a more thorough and exhaustive search.
Is a Search always thorough?
Not necessarily, a Search can be general or specific, but it isn't always exhaustive.
Can Scour be used metaphorically?
Yes, "scouring the landscape" can mean searching intensely over an area.
What's the noun form of Search?
The noun form is "search" as in "to conduct a search."
Can you Scour the internet?
Yes, it means to search the internet exhaustively and thoroughly.
Why might someone Scour a place?
They might be looking for something specific and are determined to find it.
Is Scour always intense?
Typically, Scour implies intensity, but context matters for its interpretation.
What does Scour mean in cleaning?
In cleaning, Scour means to clean or polish something by rubbing it hard.
What's the opposite of Scour in terms of cleaning?
The opposite could be "to soil" or "to tarnish."
When should I use Search instead of Scour?
Use Search for general looking and Scour when a more thorough, exhaustive search is implied.
Does Search always require physical movement?
No, you can search your memory or search the internet without physical movement.
Can I say "Search the surface"?
Yes, it means to look over the surface for something specific.
Do Scour and Search have similar origins?
No, "Scour" comes from Old Norse "skúr", meaning "shower", while "Search" comes from Old French "cerchier", meaning "to search".
Can both Scour and Search be used as nouns?
Yes, "a scour" can mean a place that has been scoured, and "a search" refers to the act of searching.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
