scout
scout — noun
1. a soldier or other person sent ahead of a main group to secretly gather informat
a soldier or other person sent ahead of a main group to secretly gather information about the enemy's position, movements, or strength
The scout crawled through the tall grass to get a closer look at the enemy camp.
collocation: scout + crawl / scout + enemy camp
Daichi served as a scout during his time in the army, mapping dangerous paths before the main troops moved in.
Commanders rely on scouts to provide accurate reports about the location and size of opposing forces.
The army sent two scouts ahead to check whether the bridge was safe to cross at night.
Before the attack, the scout reported that the enemy had moved their supplies to the north side of the valley.
- reconnaissance officer
a formal military rank or role, more specific than scout
- lookout
focuses on watching for danger rather than gathering strategic information
- pathfinder
emphasizes finding safe routes rather than observing the enemy
文法句型
scout + verb (acted as a scout)
用法筆記
Often used in military or survival contexts. The scout's role is strategic observation, not direct combat — this distinguishes a scout from a spy, who typically works secretly inside enemy organizations.
2. someone whose paid job is finding talented newcomers such as athletes, musicians
someone whose paid job is finding talented newcomers such as athletes, musicians, or actors for a team or agency
A music scout spotted Shirin singing at a local festival and offered her a recording contract.
collocation: scout + spotted + [talent]
Football clubs employ scouts to watch young players at weekend matches across the country.
Tyler was invited to try out for the team after a scout saw him play in the school tournament.
The talent scout spends most of the year traveling to small theatres and concert halls looking for fresh performers.
Bao, a fashion scout for a modeling agency, discovered Nila at a busy street market in Taipei.
- talent scout
the full compound form, more formal and unambiguous than 'scout' alone
- recruiter
broader — can be for any job, not just entertainment or sports
- spotter
informal, emphasizes the act of noticing talent rather than the professional role
文法句型
scout + verb (spotted, discovered)
常見錯誤
3. a quick inspection of an area to find out what is there or to locate something y
a quick inspection of an area to find out what is there or to locate something you need
Felipe took a quick scout around the neighborhood before deciding which apartment to rent.
We did a scout of the forest trail before bringing the whole group there for the weekend hike.
collocation: do a scout of [place]
A quick scout of the kitchen showed that we had enough food to feed the guests.
Before the camping trip, the guide did a short scout of the campsite to check for wild animals.
After a brief scout of the market, Élise found the stall that sold the freshest vegetables.
- look
less specific — does not imply searching for something particular
- reconnaissance
formal term, primarily military, much less common in everyday speech
- survey
more systematic and thorough than a quick scout
文法句型
have a scout around [place]
do a scout of [place]
用法筆記
Typically used in informal speech rather than formal writing. The verb-like structure 'have a scout around' behaves like other light-verb phrases such as 'have a look around' or 'take a walk around.'
4. an international organization for young people that teaches outdoor skills, self
an international organization for young people that teaches outdoor skills, self-reliance, and community service through activities such as camping and volunteering
The Scouts teach young people how to build a campfire, tie strong knots, and work well as a team.
collocation: the Scouts + teach [skills]
Tamar joined the Scouts when she was ten and quickly learned how to set up a tent by herself.
Every summer, the local Scout group goes camping in the mountains for two weeks.
The Scout Association runs after-school programs that help teenagers build leadership skills and confidence.
Andrew's father was a Scout leader who organized neighborhood clean-up projects for the young members.
- Scout Association
the formal name of the organization in the UK and many other countries
- Girl Scouts
a separate parallel organization for girls, especially in the US
- Boy Scouts
historical name; today many groups are co-educational
文法句型
the Scouts + verb
用法筆記
When referring to the organization, always capitalize 'Scouts' or 'Scout Association.' The word 'Scout' in the name is a proper noun. Many countries have their own national Scout organizations under the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
5. a child or teenager who belongs to the Scouts and takes part in its activities
a child or teenager who belongs to the Scouts and takes part in its activities
Each scout wears a uniform with badges that show the skills they have mastered.
collocation: scout + wears uniform / earns badges
The young scouts helped plant trees in the park as part of their community service work.
Amihan earned a hiking badge last summer after completing a fifty-kilometer trail as a scout.
A small group of scouts went door to door collecting canned food for the local shelter.
When Ife was a scout, she learned how to read a paper map and find her way through the woods.
- Girl Scout
a member of the Girl Scouts of the USA or similar organizations for girls
- Boy Scout
a member of the Boy Scouts (historical; now often simply 'scout')
- member of the Scouts
a more formal, descriptive phrase
文法句型
scout + verb
scout + wears / earns
用法筆記
The word 'scout' as a member of the organization is not capitalized (unlike 'the Scouts' as the organization name). You can also specify 'Girl Scout' or 'Boy Scout' depending on the branch.
常見錯誤
scout — verb
1. to go around an area or through a number of places looking carefully for informa
to go around an area or through a number of places looking carefully for information, people, or things you need
The team scouted the area for a good spot to build the new playground.
transitive: scout + [place] + for + [something]
Bao scouted several coffee shops around the city before choosing one for his book launch.
The director scouted locations in the old town for her next historical film.
We scouted through the garage looking for camping gear to borrow from friends.
The photographer scouted out several empty factories to use as a backdrop for the fashion shoot.
文法句型
scout + [place] + for + [something/someone]
scout through [place]
scout around
用法筆記
When followed by a location, 'scout' can be transitive (scout the kitchen) or intransitive with a preposition (scout around the kitchen). The transitive form is more compact and slightly more common in written English.