/ 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.