scout

B2 Topic:War & Conflict

US /skaʊt/ UK /skaʊt/ See IPA manual

Freq #4733

Meanings

1

noun
a person sent ahead to observe an area or gather information, especially about an enemy

The patrol sent a scout to inspect the road beyond the ridge.
2

verb
to search or examine an area in order to obtain information

They scouted the valley before choosing a safe campsite.
3

noun
a person employed to find talented recruits, especially in sport or entertainment

A football scout watched the young goalkeeper throughout the match.
4

verb
to reject or dismiss an idea scornfully

Most experts initially scouted the suggestion as impossible.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person sent ahead to... reconnaissance agentobserver

2 verb · to search or examine an... reconnoiter survey explore

3 noun · a person employed to find... talent scoutrecruiter

4 verb · to reject or dismiss an... deride dismiss reject

Opposites

accept endorse

Word family

Forms scouted

Derived forms scoutmaster

Related forms reconnaissanceauscultate

Common collocations

scout troop Noun + noun

Etymology

The reconnaissance word comes through Middle English and Anglo-French escuter, 'to listen,' from Latin auscultare. The separate verb meaning 'reject scornfully' is probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse skuti, 'taunt,' and ultimately to the Germanic family of shoot.

Topics

War & Conflict

External links

# scout

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /skaʊt/
**IPA (UK):** /skaʊt/
**Frequency rank:** 4733

## Meanings
1. a person sent ahead to observe an area or gather information, especially about an enemy
2. to search or examine an area in order to obtain information
3. a person employed to find talented recruits, especially in sport or entertainment
4. to reject or dismiss an idea scornfully

## Examples
- The patrol sent a scout to inspect the road beyond the ridge.
- They scouted the valley before choosing a safe campsite.
- A football scout watched the young goalkeeper throughout the match.
- Most experts initially scouted the suggestion as impossible.

## Synonyms
- observer
- reconnoiter
- survey
- talent scout
- dismiss

## Antonyms
- accept
- endorse

## Derived Forms
- scoutmaster

## Related Forms
- reconnaissance
- auscultate

## Etymology
The reconnaissance word comes through Middle English and Anglo-French escuter, 'to listen,' from Latin auscultare. The separate verb meaning 'reject scornfully' is probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse skuti, 'taunt,' and ultimately to the Germanic family of shoot.

## Topics
- War & Conflict

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