v. & n.
v. 1 tr. (also absol.) a pursue and kill (wild animals, esp. foxes, or game), esp. on horseback and with hounds, for sport or food. b (of an animal) chase (its prey). 2 intr. (foll. by after, for) seek, search (hunting for a pen). 3 intr. a oscillate. b (of an engine etc.) run alternately too fast and too slow. 4 tr. (foll. by away etc.) drive off by pursuit. 5 tr. scour (a district) in pursuit of game. 6 tr. (as hunted adj.) (of a look etc.) expressing alarm or terror as of one being hunted. 7 tr. (foll. by down, up) move the place of (a bell) in ringing the changes.
n. 1 the practice of hunting or an instance of this. 2 a an association of people engaged in hunting with hounds. b an area where hunting takes place. 3 an oscillating motion. hunt down pursue and capture. hunt out find by searching; track down.
[ OE huntian, weak grade of hentan seize ]