Main Entry: dis·cov·er

Pronunciation: \dis-ˈkə-vər\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): dis·cov·ered; dis·cov·er·ing \-ˈkə-v(ə-)riŋ\

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French descoverir, descovrir, from Late Latin discooperire, from Latin dis- + cooperire to cover — more at cover

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to make known or visible : expose b archaic : display
2 a : to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time : find <discover the solution> b : find out <discovered he was out of gas>intransitive verb : to make a discovery

— dis·cov·er·able \-ˈkə-v(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective

— dis·cov·er·er \-ər-ər\ noun

synonyms discover, ascertain, determine, unearth, learn mean to find out what one did not previously know. discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter <discovered the source of the river>. ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty <attempts to ascertain the population of the region>. determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely <unable to determine the origin of the word>. unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden <unearth old records>. learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice <I learned her name only today> <learning Greek>.