to study something in detail to discover new information or reach new conclusions
Before buying a car, Tom carefully researched different models and prices online.
The journalist is researching a story about renewable energy.
✦ Derived from the noun form; first used as a verb in early 17th century.
to look carefully for someone or something that is lost, hidden, or unknown
The children searched the beach for seashells until sunset.
Rescuers are searching the mountains for missing hikers.
✦ Middle English ‘serchen’ from Old French ‘cerchier’, from Latin ‘circāre’ meaning ‘go about’
to examine a person, vehicle, or container to find something hidden, illegal, or dangerous
At the airport, security officers searched every bag carefully.
Police searched the suspect’s car for weapons.
