search

¹search

verb \ˈsərch\

Definition of SEARCH

transitive verb

1

: to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something: as

a : to examine in seeking something <searched the north field>

b : to look through or explore by inspecting possible places of concealment or investigating suspicious circumstances

c : to read thoroughly : check; especially : to examine a public record or register for information about <search land titles>

d : to examine for articles concealed on the person

e : to look at as if to discover or penetrate intention or nature

2

: to uncover, find, or come to know by inquiry or scrutiny —usually used with out

intransitive verb

1

: to look or inquire carefully <searched for the papers>

2

: to make painstaking investigation or examination

— search·able \ˈsər-chə-bəl\ adjective

— search·er noun

— search·ing·ly \-chiŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of SEARCH

1. They haven't found him yet, so they have to keep searching.
2. The police searched her for concealed weapons.
3. He was searched by the guard before he was allowed to enter the courtroom.
4. The software allows you to search thousands of sites at the same time.
5. She searched for information on the Web.
6. He searched her face, hoping to see some glimmer of emotion.

Origin of SEARCH

Middle English cerchen, from Anglo-French cercher, sercher to travel about, investigate, search, from Late Latin circare to go about, from Latin circum round about — more at circum-

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SEARCH

Synonyms

comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour, sort (through), troll

Related Words

frisk, pat down, shake down; audit, check (out), examine, inspect, investigate, review, scan, scrutinize, survey; ascertain, descry, detect, determine, discover, ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), learn, locate, run down, scare up, track (down); grub (about), poke (around); explore, probe, prospect, skirmish, snoop; browse, glance (over), look over; peruse, study

Near Antonyms

hide; abandon, lose; ignore, neglect

Rhymes with SEARCH

birch, church, Church, curch, lurch, merch, perch, smirch

²search

noun

Definition of SEARCH

1

a : an act of searching <a search for food> <go in search of help>

b : an act of boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas in exercise of right of search

2

obsolete : a party that searches

3

: power or range of penetrating; also : a penetrating effect

Examples of SEARCH

1. We will begin a search for a new manager this week.
2. I performed a search for the file.
3. I did a Web search for restaurants in that area.

First Known Use of SEARCH

15th century

Related to SEARCH

Synonyms

hunt, quest

Related Words

shakedown; sweep; chase, pursuit; recon, reconnaissance, scout; canvass (also canvas), survey; exploration, probe; forage