■ verb
1》 pursue and kill (a wild animal) for sport or food.
↘(of an animal) chase and kill (its prey).
2》 search diligently for.
↘(of the police) search for (a criminal).
↘( ~ someone down ) pursue and capture someone.
↘[as adjective ~ed ] appearing alarmed or harassed as if being ~ed.
3》 (of a device or system) oscillate about a desired speed, position, or state.
4》 ( ~ down/up ) (in change-ringing) move the place of a bell in a simple progression.
■ noun an act of ~ing.
↘an association of people who meet regularly to ~, especially with hounds.
↘an area where ~ing takes place.
Origin
OE ~ian , of Gmc origin.