search
To look somewhere carefully in order to find something
جستجو کردن
He searched in his pocket and found a few coins.
او جیب هایش را گشت و چند تا سکه پیدا کرد.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
verb (searches, searching, searched )
to look carefully because you are trying to find somebody or something:
I searched everywhere for my pen.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
II. search2 W3 BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑search, ↑research, ↑researcher; verb: ↑search, ↑research; adverb: ↑searchingly; adjective: ↑searching]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cerchier 'to go around, examine, search', from Late Latin circare 'to go around', from Latin circum 'around']
1. LOOKING [intransitive and transitive] 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 something for something
Detectives are searching the yard for clues.
search in/under/through etc
Alice bent to search through a heap of clothes.
2. COMPUTER [transitive] to use a computer to find information
search something for something
Search the Web for cheap flights.
3. PERSON [transitive] if someone in authority searches you or the things you are carrying, they look for things you might be hiding
search somebody for something
He was searched by the guards for weapons.
4. SOLUTION [intransitive] to try to find an explanation or solution
search for
Scientists are still searching for a cure.
She paused, searching for inspiration.
5. search me! spoken used to tell someone that you do not know the answer to a question:
‘Where is she?’ ‘Search me!’
6. EXAMINE [transitive] to examine something carefully in order to find something out, decide something etc:
Anya searched his face anxiously.
—searcher noun [countable]
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ search something carefully We searched the whole house carefully, but didn’t find anything.
▪ search something thoroughly They searched the garden thoroughly.
▪ search frantically/desperately (=in a hurried way, because you feel very worried) Panic-stricken parents frantically searched for their children.
▪ search high and low (=search everywhere) We searched high and low for him, but couldn’t find him.
▪ search something from top to bottom (=search all the rooms in a building) They searched the house from top to bottom.
▪ search in vain He searched in vain for a means of escape.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ search to look carefully for someone or something: Detectives continue to search for clues. | She searched through all his clothes.
▪ look for somebody/something to try to get someone or something you want or need: I’m looking for something to wear for my sister’s wedding. | The band is looking for a singer. | He’s decided to look for a new career.
▪ try to find somebody/something used especially when someone or something is difficult to find: I spent half an hour trying to find a parking space. | She was in the kitchen, trying to find something to eat that wasn’t raw carrot.
▪ seek formal to try to find something or someone. Used especially about jobs, help, or information. Also used in newspaper advertisements when trying to find a suitable person: They went there seeking work. | She decided to seek help. | Tall blond 18-year-old male seeks female 17+ for friendship.
▪ hunt to look for someone or something. Used when you look very carefully and thoroughly, or in the phrase house/job/bargain hunting: I’ve hunted everywhere, but I can’t find a recipe for French onion soup. | She’s gone out bargain-hunting in the sales.
▪ be on the lookout for somebody/something to be continuously looking for someone or something: I’m always on the lookout for a good bargain.
▪ leave no stone unturned to look for someone or something in every possible place: The police say they will leave no stone unturned in their search for the killer.
search something ↔ out phrasal verb
to find something by searching:
We were too tired to search out extra blankets.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
verb
1. intransitive, transitive to look carefully for sth/sb; to examine a particular place when looking for sb/sth
• ~ (for sth/sb) She searched in vain for her passport.
• Police searched for clues in the area.
• + adv./prep. The customs officers searched through our bags.
• I've searched high and low for those files.
• I found these photos while searching among some old papers.
• ~ sth His house had clearly been searched and the book was missing.
• ~ sth for sth/sb Police searched the area for clues.
• Firefighters searched the buildings for survivors.
• searching the Web for interesting sites
2. transitive (especially of the police) to examine sb's clothes, their pockets, etc. in order to find sth that they may be hiding
• ~ sb Visitors are regularly searched as they enter the building.
• ~ sb for sth The youths were arrested and searched for anything that would incriminate them.
see also strip-search
3. intransitive ~ (for sth) to think carefully about sth, especially in order to find the answer to a problem
• He searched desperately for something to say.
• The committee has been searching for new ways to tackle youth unemployment.
see also soul-searching
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French cerchier (verb), from late Latin circare ‘go round’, from Latin circus ‘circle’.
Thesaurus:
search verb I, T
• He searched everywhere for his passport.
look • • hunt • • scout • |formal seek • |written forage • • cast about/around for sth •
search/look/hunt/scout/seek/forage for sth
search/look/hunt for clues
police/detectives search for/look for/seek/hunt sb/sth
Example Bank:
• For the rest of the morning he searched aimlessly through the town.
• He searched in his pocket and found a few coins.
• I have searched high and low and cannot find them.
• I searched around for a thick stick.
• I searched through a drawer for my passport.
• Police are still searching for the missing child.
• The area has been thoroughly searched.
• We searched among the rocks for crabs.
• We searched the house from top to bottom.
• You can also search online for a job.
• actively searching for something to keep the conversation going
• searching through a drawer
• Firefighters searched the building for survivors.
• I found out more about the company by searching online.
• I was searching this history website for something about Alexander the Great.
• I've searched high and low for those files, but I can't find them anywhere.
• It's a software tool for searching documents and retrieving information.
• Search the index to find the address of the data file.
• The customs officers searched through her bag.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
search / sɜːtʃ / / sɝːtʃ / verb
B1 [ I or T ] to look somewhere carefully in order to find something:
The police searched the woods for the missing boy.
She searched his face for some sign of forgiveness, but it remained expressionless.
He searched (in/through) his pockets for some change.
I've searched high and low (= everywhere) , but I can't find my birth certificate.
The detectives searched the house from top to bottom (= all over it) , but they found no sign of the stolen goods.
figurative She searched her mind/memory for the man's name, but she couldn't remember it.
figurative People who are searching after inner peace sometimes turn to religion.
C1 [ I ] to try to find the answer to a problem:
Philosophers have searched for millennia but they haven't found the meaning of life.
B2 [ T ] A police officer who searches you or your possessions looks for something you might be hiding:
The men were searched for drugs and then released.
B1 [ I or T ] to look for information on a computer, the internet, etc.:
I searched the internet for the best deal.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
search
/sɜ:(r)tʃ/
(searches, searching, searched)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you search for something or someone, you look carefully for them.
The Turkish security forces have started searching for the missing men...
Nonetheless there are signs that both sides may be searching for a compromise.
VERB: V for n, V for n
2.
If you search a place, you look carefully for something or someone there.
Armed troops searched the hospital yesterday...
She searched her desk for the necessary information...
Relief workers are still searching through collapsed buildings looking for victims.
VERB: V n, V n for n, V prep
3.
A search is an attempt to find something or someone by looking for them carefully.
There was no chance of him being found alive and the search was abandoned...
Egypt has said there is no time to lose in the search for a Middle East settlement.
N-COUNT: oft N for n
4.
If a police officer or someone else in authority searches you, they look carefully to see whether you have something hidden on you.
The man took her suitcase from her and then searched her...
His first task was to search them for weapons.
VERB: V n, V n for n
5.
If you search for information on a computer, you give the computer an instruction to find that information. (COMPUTING)
You can use a directory service to search for people on the Internet.
VERB: V for n
•
Search is also a noun.
He was doing a computer search of local news articles.
N-COUNT
6.
see also searching, strip-search
7.
If you go in search of something or someone, you try to find them.
Miserable, and unexpectedly lonely, she went in search of Jean-Paul...
The law already denies entry to people in search of better economic opportunities.
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n
8.
You say ‘search me’ when someone asks you a question and you want to emphasize that you do not know the answer. (INFORMAL)
CONVENTION [emphasis]
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
search
2search verb searches; searched; search·ing
1 a [no obj] : to carefully look for someone or something : to try to find someone or something
• They haven't found him yet, so they have to keep searching.
• They searched among/through the wreckage (for survivors).
• We searched [=looked] everywhere but we couldn't find the keys.
- often + for
• They're still searching for the lost child.
- often used figuratively
• Scientists are searching for a cure. [=are doing research to try to find a cure]
• He searched for the words to comfort her. [=he tried to think of words that he could say to comfort her]
• She searched for an answer to his question.
b [+ obj] : to carefully look for someone or something in (something)
• Police searched the vehicle.
- often + for
• He searched his room for his wallet.
c [+ obj] : to carefully look through the clothing of (someone) for something that may be hidden
• The police searched her for concealed weapons.
• He was searched by the guard before he was allowed to enter the courtroom.
2 : to use a computer to find information in (a database, network, Web site, etc.)
[+ obj]
• The software allows you to search thousands of sites at the same time.
- often + for
• She searched the Web for information about the car.
[no obj]
• She searched for information on the Web.
3 [+ obj] : to look carefully at (something) in order to get information about it
• He searched her face, hoping to see some glimmer of emotion.
search me informal
- used in speech to say that you do not know the answer to a question
• “Why did they do that?” “Search me.” [=I don't know]
search out [phrasal verb] search (someone or something) out or search out (someone or something) : to find (someone or something) by carefully looking
• She searched out the relevant information.
- search·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• Searchers couldn't find the lost hikers.
