DISCOVER


Meaning of DISCOVER in English

/ dɪˈskʌvə(r); NAmE / verb

1.

[ vn ] to be the first person to become aware that a particular place or thing exists :

Cook is credited with discovering Hawaii.

Scientists around the world are working to discover a cure for AIDS.

2.

to find sb/sth that was hidden or that you did not expect to find :

[ vn ]

Police discovered a large stash of drugs while searching the house.

We discovered this beach while we were sailing around the island.

[ vn -ing ]

He was discovered hiding in a shed.

[ vn - adj ]

She was discovered dead at her home in Leeds.

3.

to find out about sth; to find some information about sth :

[ vn ]

I've just discovered hang-gliding!

[ v ( that )]

It was a shock to discover (that) he couldn't read.

[ v wh- ]

We never did discover why she gave up her job.

[ vn that ]

It was later discovered that the diaries were a fraud.

[ vn to inf ]

He was later discovered to be seriously ill.

HELP NOTE : This pattern is usually used in the passive.

4.

[ vn ] [ often passive ] to be the first person to realize that sb is very good at singing, acting, etc. and help them to become successful and famous :

The singer was discovered while still at school.

►  dis·cov·er·er noun :

the discoverer of penicillin

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (in the sense make known ): from Old French descovrir , from late Latin discooperire , from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + cooperire cover completely, from co- (expressing intensive force) + operire to cover.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.