search
pronunciation
How to pronounce search in British English:
UK [sɜːtʃ]
How to pronounce search in American English:
US [sɜːrtʃ]
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- Noun:
- the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
- an investigation seeking answers
- an operation that determines whether one or more of a set of items has a specified property
- the examination of alternative hypotheses
- boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas
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- Verb:
- try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
- search or seek
- inquire into
- subject to a search
Word Origin
- search
- search: [14] Etymologically, search denotes ‘going round in a circle’ – for its ultimate source is Latin circus ‘circle’ (source of English circle and circus). From this was derived the verb circāre ‘go round’, which by the time it had reached Old French as cerchier had acquired connotations of ‘examining’ or ‘exploring’. English took it over via Anglo-Norman sercher. (It is no relation, incidentally, to English seek.)=> circle, circus
- search (v.)
- c. 1300, from Old French cerchier "to search" (12c., Modern French chercher), from Latin circare "go about, wander, traverse," in Late Latin "to wander hither and thither," from circus "circle" (see circus). Phrase search me as a verbal shrug of ignorance first recorded 1901. Search engine attested from 1988. Search and destroy as a modifier is 1966, American English, from the Vietnam War. Search and rescue is from 1944.
- search (n.)
- c. 1400, "act of searching;" early 15c., "right to investigate illegal activity; examination of records, wills, etc.; a search through an area or a place," from Anglo-French serche, Old French cerche, from cerchier (see search (v.)). Search warrant attested from 1739.
Example
- 1. Does microsoft still need yahoo search ?
- 2. So the search is on for more practical qubits .
- 3. Authorities searched his ranch and jackson agreed to a strip search .
- 4. Often the police will frisk them anyway , and search their cars as well .
- 5. The search for security will strengthen political control over markets .