/ sɜːtʃ; NAmE sɜːrtʃ/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
search (for sb/sth) an attempt to find sb/sth, especially by looking carefully for them / it :
a long search for the murder weapon
Detectives carried out a thorough search of the building.
She went into the kitchen in search of (= looking for) a drink.
The search for a cure goes on.
The search is on (= has begun) for someone to fill the post.
Eventually the search was called off.
a search and rescue team
2.
( computing ) an act of looking for information in a computer database or network :
to do a search on the Internet
■ verb
1.
search (sth) (for sth/sb) to look carefully for sth/sb; to examine a particular place when looking for sb/sth :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
She searched in vain for her passport.
The customs officers searched through our bags.
I've searched high and low for those files.
[ vn ]
His house had clearly been searched and the book was missing.
Firefighters searched the buildings for survivors.
searching the Web for interesting sites
[ v , vn ]
Police searched for clues in the area.
Police searched the area for clues.
2.
[ vn ] search sb (for sth) ( especially of the police ) to examine sb's clothes, their pockets, etc. in order to find sth that they may be hiding :
Visitors are regularly searched as they enter the building.
The youths were arrested and searched for anything that would incriminate them.
—see also strip-search
3.
[ v ] search (for sth) to think carefully about sth, especially in order to find the answer to a problem :
He searched desperately for something to say.
—see also soul-searching
•
IDIOMS
- search me
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- search sth/sb out
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French cerchier (verb), from late Latin circare go round, from Latin circus circle.