Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

search me

 - 6 dictionary results

search

  [surch]
Use search me in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. to explore or examine in order to discover: They searched the hills for gold.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. to look into, question, or scrutinize: She searched her conscience.
7. (of natural elements) to pierce or penetrate: The sunlight searched the room's dark corners.
8. to uncover or find by examination or exploration (often fol. by out): to search out all the facts.
9. 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.
–verb (used without object)
11. to inquire, investigate, examine, or seek; conduct an examination or investigation.
–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.) ME serchen, cerchen (< AF sercher) < OF cerchier < LL circāre to go around, deriv. of L circus circle; (n.) ME serche < AF serche, OF cerche, deriv. of cerchier

Related forms:
search⋅a⋅ble, adjective
search⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun
searcher, noun

Synonyms:
1. investigate. 2. inspect. 12. inspection, scrutiny.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To search me
search   (sûrch)   
v.   searched, search·ing, search·es

v.   tr.

  1. To make a thorough examination of; look over carefully in order to find something; explore.

  2. To make a careful examination or investigation of; probe: search one's conscience for the right solution to the problem.

  3. Law To make a thorough check of (a legal document); scrutinize: search a title.

    1. To examine in order to find something lost or concealed.

    2. To examine the person or personal effects of in order to find something lost or concealed.

  5. To come to know; learn.

v.   intr.
To conduct a thorough investigation; seek: were searching for clues.
n.  

  1. An act of searching.

  2. Law The exercise of right of search.


[Middle English serchen, from Anglo-Norman sercher, variant of Old French cerchier, from Latin circāre, to go around, from Latin circus, circle, from Greek krikos, kirkos; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots.]
search'a·ble adj., search'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
Search me

  1. sent.
    I don't know. (There is a heavy stress on both words.) TOM: How do crickets make that chirping noise? BILL: Search me. : You can search me. How should I know?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

search  (v.)
c.1330, 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: search
Function: transitive verb
: to conduct a search of <search a premises> <search a person> <search a title> intransitive verb : to conduct a search <search for drugs in a school locker> —search·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

search me

I don't know the answer to that, as in Where's John?Search me, I haven't seen him for weeks. This expression in effect means "you can investigate me completely for the information you want but you won't find it." [Slang; c. 1900]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see search me on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way