to look through (a place, etc.) to find something lost: [~ + object + for + object]I searched the house for my keys.[~ + for + object]I searched for my keys.
to examine (a person, etc.) to find something hidden: [~ + object + for + object]The police searched his car for the drugs.[~ + for + object]They were searching for drugs.
to explore or examine in order to discover: [~ + object + for + object]They searched the hills for gold.[~ + for + object]Scientists are searching for a cure for AIDS.[~ + out + object]to search out all the facts.
to examine (a record, writing, etc.) for information:[~ + object]to search a property title.
to look into, question, or think carefully about:[~ + object]Search your conscience.
to command software to find certain words, letters, or characters in (an electronic file): [~ + object + for + object]to search a database for all instances of "U.S.'' and replace them with "United States.''[~ + for + object]to search for all instances of "U.S.''
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.
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 fol. by out):to search out all the facts.
Militaryto fire artillery over (an area) with successive changes in gun elevation.
Computingto examine (one or more files, as databases or texts) electronically, to locate specified items.
v.i.
to inquire, investigate, examine, or seek; conduct an examination or investigation.
search me, I don't know:Why has it taken so long to reach a decision? Search me.
n.
an act or instance of searching; careful examination or investigation.
Militarythe 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.
Anglo-French serche, Old French cerche, derivative of cerchier
Late Latin circāre to go around, derivative of Latin circus circle; (noun, nominal) Middle English serche
Old French cerchier
Anglo-French sercher)
(verb, verbal) Middle English serchen,cerchen (1300–50
search′a•ble, adj. search′a•ble•ness, n. search′er, n.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged investigate.
2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inspect.
13.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inspection, scrutiny.
to look through (a place, records, etc) thoroughly in order to find someone or something
(transitive)to examine (a person) for concealed objects by running one's hands over the clothing
to look at or examine (something) closely: to search one's conscience
(transitive) followed byout: to discover by investigation
to probe (a wound)
to review (a file) to locate specific information
to penetrate
search me ⇒ I don't know
the act or an instance of searching
the examination of a vessel by the right of search
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
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French cerchier, from Late Latin circāre to go around, from Latin circuscircleˈsearchableˈsearcher
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