What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Clean vs Scour - What's the difference?

clean | scour |

As nouns the difference between clean and scour

is that clean is removal of dirt while scour is the removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.

As verbs the difference between clean and scour

is that clean is to remove dirt from a place or object while scour is to clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously.

As an adjective clean

is Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.

As an adverb clean

is fully and completely.

clean

English

(wikipedia clean)

Adjective

(er)
  • Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
  • #Not dirty.
  • #:
  • #*
  • #*:Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean . ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.
  • #In an unmarked condition.
  • #:
  • #(lb) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
  • #Empty.
  • #:
  • #(lb) Having relatively few impurities.
  • #:
  • Free of immorality or criminality.
  • #Pure, especially morally or religiously.
  • #:
  • #*(Bible), (Psalms) li.10:
  • #*:Create in me a clean heart, O God.
  • #* (1809-1892)
  • #*:That I am whole, and clean , and meet for Heaven.
  • #Not having used drugs or alcohol.
  • #:
  • # Without restrictions or penalties, or someone having such a record.
  • #:
  • #(lb) Not in possession of weapons or contraband such as drugs.
  • #:
  • Smooth, exact, and performed well.
  • :
  • (lb) Cool or neat.
  • :
  • (lb) Being free of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
  • :
  • Which doesn’t .
  • :
  • Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.
  • :
  • Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
  • *(Bible), (w) xxiii.22:
  • *:When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field.
  • Well-proportioned; shapely.
  • :
  • Ascended without falling.
  • Synonyms

    * (not dirty) * (empty)

    Antonyms

    * dirty * unclean

    Derived terms

    * clean as a hound's tooth * * clean sheet * clean sweep * cleanliness * cleanly * come clean * lick clean * unclean

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Removal of dirt.
  • This place needs a clean .
  • (weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To remove dirt from a place or object.
  • Can you clean the windows today?
  • To tidy up, make a place neat.
  • Clean your room right now!
  • (climbing) To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
  • To make things clean in general.
  • She just likes to clean . That’s why I married her.
  • (curling) To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * clean someone’s clock * clean out * clean up * cleaner * houseclean

    Adverb

    (er)
  • Fully and completely.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when modish taste was just due to go clean out of fashion for the best part of the next hundred years.}}

    scour

    English

    Alternative forms

    * scower (obsolete)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously.
  • He scoured the burner pans to remove the burnt spills.
  • To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off.
  • He scoured the burnt food from the pan.
  • * Shakespeare
  • [I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask, / Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it.
  • To search an area thoroughly.
  • They scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
  • (ambitransitive) To move swiftly over; to brush along.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • when swift Camilla scours the plain
  • * Dryden
  • So four fierce coursers, starting to the race, / Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace.
  • (veterinary medicine) Of livestock, to suffer from diarrhea.
  • If a lamb is scouring , do not delay treatment.
  • (veterinary medicine) To purge.
  • to scour a horse
  • (obsolete) To cleanse.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better.

    Derived terms

    * scourer

    Noun

    (-)
  • The removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.
  • Bridge scour may scoop out scour holes and compromise the integrity of the bridge.