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search

[surch]

Origin

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verb (used with object)

to go or look through (a place, area, etc.) carefully in order to find something missing or lost: They searched the woods for the missing child. I searched the desk for the letter.

to look at or examine (a person, object, etc.) carefully in order to find something concealed: He searched the vase for signs of a crack. The police searched the suspect for weapons.

to explore or examine in order to discover: They searched the hills for gold.

to look at, read, or examine (a record, writing, collection, repository, etc.) for information: to search a property title; He searched the courthouse for a record of the deed to the land.

to look at or beneath the superficial aspects of to discover a motive, reaction, feeling, basic truth, etc.: He searched her face for a clue to her true feelings.

EXPAND

to look into, question, or scrutinize: She searched her conscience.

(of natural elements) to pierce or penetrate: The sunlight searched the room's dark corners.

to uncover or find by examination or exploration (often followed by out): to search out all the facts.

Military. to fire artillery over (an area) with successive changes in gun elevation.

10.

Computers. to examine (one or more files, as databases or texts) electronically, to locate specified items.

COLLAPSE

verb (used without object)

11.

to inquire, investigate, examine, or seek; conduct an examination or investigation.

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to spend time idly; loaf.

to bark; yelp.

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noun

12.

an act or instance of searching; careful examination or investigation.

13.

the practice, on the part of naval officers of a belligerent nation, of boarding and examining a suspected neutral vessel at sea in order to ascertain its true nationality and determine if it is carrying contraband: the right of visit and search.

Idiom

14.

search me, I don't know: Why has it taken so long to reach a decision? Search me.

Origin:
1300–50; (v.) Middle English serchen, cerchen (< Anglo-French sercher) < Old French cerchier < Late Latin circāre to go around, derivative of Latin circus circle; (noun) Middle English serche < Anglo-French serche, Old French cerche, derivative of cerchier

Related forms

search·a·ble, adjective

search·a·ble·ness, noun

search·er, noun

out·search, verb (used with object)

pre·search, noun, verb (used with object)

EXPAND

un·der·search, noun

un·searched, adjective

well-searched, adjective

COLLAPSE

Synonyms
1. investigate. 2. inspect. 12. inspection, scrutiny.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

search (sɜːtʃ)

—vb (foll by out)
1.	to look through (a place, records, etc) thoroughly in order to find someone or something
2.	(tr) to examine (a person) for concealed objects by running one's hands over the clothing
3.	to look at or examine (something) closely: to search one's conscience
4.	to discover by investigation
5.	surgery
	a. to explore (a bodily cavity) during a surgical procedure
	b. to probe (a wound)
6.	(tr) military to fire all over (an area)
7.	computing to review (a file) to locate specific information
8.	archaic to penetrate
9.	informal search me I don't know

—n
10.	the act or an instance of searching
11.	the examination of a vessel by the right of search
12.	computing
	a. a review of a file to locate specific information
	b. (as modifier): a search routine
13.	international law right of search the right possessed by the warships of a belligerent state in time of war to board and search merchant vessels to ascertain whether ship or cargo is liable to seizure

[C14: from Old French cerchier, from Late Latin circāre to go around, from Latin circuscircle]

'searchable

—*adj*

'searcher

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

early 14c., from O.Fr. cerchier "to search," from L. circare "go about, wander, traverse," from circus "circle." The noun is first recorded c.1400. Phrase search me as a verbal shrug of ignorance first recorded 1901. Search warrant first attested 1739. Search-light recorded from 1883.

FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary