v.
Pronunciation: dis- ' k ə -v ə r
Function: verb
Inflected Form: dis · cov · ered ; dis · cov · er · ing \ - ' k ə -v( ə -)ri ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French descoverir, descovrir, from Late Latin discooperire, from Latin dis- + cooperire to cover ― more at COVER
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to make known or visible : EXPOSE b archaic : DISPLAY
2 a : to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time : FIND < discover the solution> b : FIND OUT < discover ed he was out of gas>
intransitive verb : to make a discovery
– dis · cov · er · able \ - ' k ə -v( ə -)r ə -b ə l \ adjective
– dis · cov · er · er \ - ə r- ə r \ noun
synonyms DISCOVER , ASCERTAIN , DETERMINE , UNEARTH , LEARN mean to find out what one did not previously know. DISCOVER may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter < discovered the source of the river>. ASCERTAIN implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty <attempts to ascertain the population of the region>. DETERMINE emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely <unable to determine the origin of the word>. UNEARTH implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden < unearth old records>. LEARN may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice <I learned her name only today> < learning Greek>.