Search Definition–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,
94b
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. | |
