verb / noun
scour
To wear away surface material by abrasive action.
Windblown sand scours the surface of rocks in the desert.
Etymology
The source concerns scrubbing or abrasive cleaning. Scour extends that rubbing action to wearing away surface material, including through flowing water.
More examples
- Floodwater scoured away soil around the bridge supports.
- Repeated scraping is scouring grooves into the soft metal.
- Engineers check the riverbed for scour after each flood.
Forms
scour · scours · scoured · scouring