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v. scout·ed, scout·ing, scouts v.tr. 1. To spy on or explore carefully in order to obtain information; reconnoiter. 2. To observe and evaluate (a talented person), as for possible hiring. v.intr. 1. To search as a scout: scout around for some gossip. 2. To search for talented people: scouts for a professional basketball team. n. 1. a. One that is dispatched from a main body to gather information, especially in preparation for military action. b. The act of reconnoitering. 2. A watcher or sentinel. 3. One who is employed to discover and recruit talented persons, especially in the fields of sports and entertainment. 4. Sports One who is employed to observe and report on the strategies and players of rival teams. 5. often Scout a. A member of the Boy Scouts. b. A member of the Girl Scouts. 6. Informal An individual; a person: a good scout. 7. Chiefly British A student's male servant at Oxford University. [From Middle English scoute, act of watching or spying, from Old French escoute, from escouter, to listen, alteration of ascouter, from Vulgar Latin *ascultāre, alteration of Latin auscultāre; see ous- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] scouter n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. scout·ed, scout·ing, scouts To reject with disdain or derision. [Of Scandinavian origin; see skeud- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
