- search
- search1 W2S3 [sə:tʃ US sə:rtʃ] n1.) [C usually singular]an attempt to find someone or somethingsearch for▪ Bad weather is hampering the search for survivors.search of▪ a search of the area▪ The police have already carried out a search .▪ Perhaps they will wait until morning before launching a search .▪ Rescuers were forced to abandon their search .▪ a thorough search of the undergrowth▪ I spent the next three hours in a fruitless search for a replacement.▪ The search is now on for a new management team.2.)a series of actions done by a computer to find informationsearch of▪ a computerized search of 10,000 medical journals▪ A search found 46 websites.▪ an online searchperform/run/do a search▪ Do a search on 'rabbit' and see what it brings up.3.) in search of sthlooking for something▪ Mark went in search of water.4.) [singular]an attempt to find an explanation or solutionsearch for▪ the search for a cure▬▬▬▬▬▬▬COLLOCATES for sense 1carry out/conduct a searchbegin/launch a searchcall off/abandon a searchthorough/painstaking/systematic search (=a very detailed one)fruitless search (=an unsuccessful one)nationwide searchhouse-to-house search (=a search of every house or building in an area)fingertip search British English (=a search for clues by police officers at the scene of a crime)strip search (=a search of someone by taking off their clothes)the search is on (=used to say that something is now being looked for)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬search 2search2 W3 v▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(looking)¦2¦(computer)¦3¦(person)¦4¦(solution)¦5 search me!6¦(examine)¦Phrasal verbssearch something<=>out▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: cerchier 'to go around, examine, search', from Late Latin circare 'to go around', from Latin circum 'around']1.) ¦(LOOKING)¦ [I and T]to try to find someone or something by looking very carefully▪ It was too dark to search further.▪ The area was thoroughly searched .search for▪ An RAF plane searched for the missing men.▪ I've searched high and low (=everywhere) for my glasses.search sth for sth▪ Detectives are searching the yard for clues.search in/under/through etc▪ Alice bent to search through a heap of clothes.2.) ¦(COMPUTER)¦ [T]to use a computer to find informationsearch sth for sth▪ Search the Web for cheap flights.3.) ¦(PERSON)¦ [T]if someone in authority searches you or the things you are carrying, they look for things you might be hidingsearch sb for sth▪ He was searched by the guards for weapons.4.) ¦(SOLUTION)¦to try to find an explanation or solutionsearch for▪ Scientists are still searching for a cure.▪ She paused, searching for inspiration.5.) search me![i]spoken used to tell someone that you do not know the answer to a question▪ 'Where is she?' 'Search me!'6.) ¦(EXAMINE)¦ [T]to examine something carefully in order to find something out, decide something etc▪ Anya searched his face anxiously.>searcher nsearch out [search sth<=>out] phr vto find something by searching▪ We were too tired to search out extra blankets.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
