v.
- try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly.
▸examine thoroughly in order to find something.
▸look for information in (a computer network or database) by using a search engine.
-
[as adj. searching]
scrutinizing thoroughly, especially in a disconcerting way.
n.
an act of searching.
▸Law an investigation of public records to find if a property is subject to any liabilities or encumbrances.
▸Computing the systematic retrieval of information, or the facility for this.
Phrase
- search me!
informal I do not know.
Derivative
- searchability n.
- searchable adj.
- searcher n.
- searchingly adv.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. cerchier (v.), from late L. circare ‘go round’, from L. circus ‘circle’.