/ dɪˈskʌvəri; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C , U ] discovery (of sth) | discovery (that ... ) an act or the process of finding sb/sth, or learning about sth that was not known about before :
the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century
The discovery of a child's body in the river has shocked the community.
Researchers in this field have made some important new discoveries .
He saw life as a voyage of discovery.
She was shocked by the discovery that he had been unfaithful.
the discovery of new talent in the art world
2.
[ C ] a thing, fact or person that is found or learned about for the first time :
The drug is not a new discovery—it's been known about for years.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from discover , on the pattern of the pair recover , recovery .