Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scouts, present participle scouting, past tense, past participle scouted
1. countable noun
A scout is someone who is sent to an area of countryside to find out the position of an enemy army.
They sent two men out in front as scouts.
Synonyms: vanguard, lookout, precursor, outrider More Synonyms of scout
2. countable noun
A scout is the same as a talent scout.
3. verb
If you scout somewhere for something, you go through that area searching for it.
I wouldn't have time to scout the area for junk. [VERB noun + for]
A team of four was sent to scout for a nuclear test site. [VERB + for]
I have people scouting the hills already. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: reconnoitre, investigate, check out, case [slang] More Synonyms of scout
Phrasal verbs:
See scout around
See scout out
More Synonyms of scout
Scout
(skaʊt)
Word forms: plural Scouts
1. proper noun [with singular or plural verb]
The Scouts is an organization for children and young people which teaches them to be practical, sensible, and helpful.
2. countable noun
A Scout is a member of the Scouts.
...a party of seven Scouts and three leaders on a camping trip.
...a Scout troop.
scout in British English1
(skaʊt)
noun
1.
a person, ship, or aircraft sent out to gain information
2. military
a person or unit despatched to reconnoitre the position of the enemy
3. sport
a person employed by a club to seek new players
4.
the act or an instance of scouting
5.
(esp at Oxford University) a college servant
Compare gyp3
6. obsolete
(in Britain) a patrolman of a motoring organization
7. informal
a fellow or companion
verb
8.
to examine or observe (anything) in order to obtain information
9. (tr; sometimes foll by out or up)
to seek
10. (intransitive)
to act as a scout for a sports club
11. (intr; foll by about or around)
to go in search (for)
Derived forms
scouter (ˈscouter)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French ascouter to listen to, from Latin auscultāre to auscultate
scout in British English2
(skaʊt)
verb
archaic
to reject (a person or thing) with contempt
Word origin
C17: from Old Norse skūta derision
Scout in British English
(skaʊt)
noun
(sometimes not capital)
a boy or (in some countries) a girl who is a member of a worldwide movement (the Scout Association) founded as the Boy Scouts in England in 1908 by Lord Baden-Powell with the aim of developing character and responsibility
See also Air Scout, Girl Scout, Guide, Sea Scout, Venture Scout
scout in American English1
(skaʊt)
noun
1.
a soldier, ship, or plane sent to spy out the strength, movements, etc. of the enemy
2. US
a person sent out to observe the tactics of an opponent, to search out new talent, etc.
a baseball scout
3. [S-]
a member of the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts
4.
the act of reconnoitering
5. Slang
fellow; guy
verb transitive
6.
to follow closely so as to spy upon
7.
to look for; watch
8.
to find or get by looking around
often with out, up
verb intransitive
9.
to go out in search of information about the enemy; reconnoiter
10.
to go in search of something; hunt
scout around for some firewood
11. US
to work as a scout1 (sense 2)
Derived forms
scouter (ˈscouter)
noun
Word origin
ME scoute < OFr escoute < escouter, escolter, to hear < VL ascultare, for L auscultare, to listen: see auscultation
scout in American English2
(skaʊt)
verb transitive
1.
to reject as absurd; flout; scoff at
verb intransitive
2.
to scoff (at); jeer
Word origin
prob. via dial. < ON skuti, a taunt, term of abuse, akin to shout
Examples of 'scout' in a sentence
scout
The theatre was already scouting for a new challenge for its youth participation scheme.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Humberts is now scouting around for funds.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Then each army sent out scouts looking for the other.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
He was spotted by a scout while he worked at her home.
The Sun (2011)
They ran away but the scouts recognised two.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Such an explanation might have reasonably persuaded the scouting organizations that his actions were wrongly perceived.
Christianity Today (2000)
Our scouts daily find them dead in the woods.
Hibbert, Christopher Red Coats and Rebels - the war for America 1770-1781 (1990)
Scouts from leading clubs have been turning up for our games.
The Sun (2015)
They leave the arduous task of compiling reports on forthcoming opponents and potential signings to their scouting teams.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Prior to swarming, scouts search for suitable new nest sites.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I wish we had some scouts to send ahead of us.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
While scouting out the area around Albuquerque, he came across these two characters.
The Sun (2013)
FUND managers are already scouting for firms that could benefit from the 2 billion green fund announced in the budget.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
When allegedly scouting the area in preparation for another raid, gang members had confronted police keeping tabs on them and demanded they be left alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
scout
British English: scout /skaʊt/ NOUN
A scout is someone who is sent to an area of countryside to find out the position of an enemy army.
They set off, with two men out in front as scouts.
American English: scout
Arabic: كَشَّاف
Brazilian Portuguese: batedor
Chinese: 童子军
Croatian: izviđač
Czech: zvěd
Danish: spejder
Dutch: verkenner
European Spanish: explorador persona
Finnish: tiedustelija
French: éclaireur
German: Pfadfinder
Greek: πρόσκοπος
Italian: scout
Japanese: 偵察兵
Korean: 정찰
Norwegian: speider
Polish: skaut
European Portuguese: batedor
Romanian: cercetaș
Russian: разведчик
Latin American Spanish: explorador escultista
Swedish: scout
Thai: ลูกเสือ
Turkish: izci
Ukrainian: розвідник
Vietnamese: hướng đạo sinh
British English: scout VERB
If you scout somewhere for something, you go through that area searching for it.
I wouldn't have time to scout the area for junk.
He scouted for groups, recruited, and rostered them.
American English: scout
Brazilian Portuguese: vasculhar
Chinese: 搜寻
European Spanish: rastrear
French: explorer
German: erkunden
Italian: perlustrare
Japanese: 捜す
Korean: 찾아다니다
European Portuguese: vasculhar
Latin American Spanish: rastrear
Chinese translation of 'scout'
scout
(skaut)
n(c)
(also boy scout) 男童子军(軍)成员(員) (nántóngzǐjūn chéngyuán) (个(個), gè)
(Mil) 侦(偵)察员(員) (zhēncháyuán)
vt
to scout an area (for sth)搜(蒐)索某个(個)地区(區)(寻(尋)找某物) (sōusuǒ mǒugè dìqū (xúnzhǎo mǒuwù))