searching
Use Searching in a sentence
tʃɪŋ adjective
1.
examining carefully or thoroughly: a searching inspection.
2.
acutely observant or penetrating: a searching glance; a searching mind.
3.
piercing or sharp: a searching wind.
00:10
Searching
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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 followed 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
Idioms 12.
a.
the act of searching; careful examination or investigation: Her date with the guy she met online went badly, so her search for “Mr. Right” continues.
b.
an instance of this: Did the search turn up any clues?
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.
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
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)
Synonyms
1. investigate. 2. inspect. 12. inspection, scrutiny.
1. investigate. 2. inspect. 12. inspection, scrutiny.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To searching
Collins
World English Dictionary
search (sɜːtʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —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 circus | |
| 'searchable | |
| —adj | |
| 'searcher | |
| —n | |
| searching (ˈsɜːtʃɪŋ) | |
| —adj | |
| keenly penetrating: a searching look | |
| 'searchingly | |
| —adv | |
| 'searchingness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
search
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
It also has information for people considering a career in teaching, job-searching tips, and links to other resources.
They held their sun-scorched eyes to the horizon, searching for land, but there was none.
We worked on searching for pieces for almost a year.
Looming debt and demographic crises have governments searching for extra revenue.
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