search
♦♦ search /s'ɜːrtʃ/ (searches searching searched)
1 [VERB] V for n, V for n
If you search for something or someone, you look carefully for them.
The Turkish security forces have started searching for the missing men...
Nonetheless there are signs that both sides may be searching for a compromise.
2 [VERB] V n, V n for n, V prep
If you search a place, you look carefully for something or someone there.
Armed troops searched the hospital yesterday...
She searched her desk for the necessary information...
Relief workers are still searching through collapsed buildings looking for victims.
3 [N-COUNT] oft N for n
A search is an attempt to find something or someone by looking for them carefully.
There was no chance of him being found alive and the search was abandoned...
Egypt has said there is no time to lose in the search for a Middle East settlement.
4 [VERB] V n, V n for n
If a police officer or someone else in authority searches you, they look carefully to see whether you have something hidden on you.
The man took her suitcase from her and then searched her...
His first task was to search them for weapons.
5 [VERB] V for n
If you search for information on a computer, you give the computer an instruction to find that information. (COMPUTING)
You can use a directory service to search for people on the Internet.
[N-COUNT]
Search is also a noun.
He was doing a computer search of local news articles.
6
see also searching, strip-search
7 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
If you go in search of something or someone, you try to find them.
Miserable, and unexpectedly lonely, she went in search of Jean-Paul...
The law already denies entry to people in search of better economic opportunities.
8 [CONVENTION]
You say `search me' when someone asks you a question and you want to emphasize that you do not know the answer. (INFORMAL)body search (body searches body searching body searched)
also body-search
[VERB] be V-ed, also V n
If a person is body searched, someone such as a police officer searches them while they remain clothed. Compare strip-search.
Foreign journalists were body-searched by airport police.
[N-COUNT]
Body search is also a noun.
Fans may undergo body searches by security guards.finger|tip search (fingertip searches)
[N-COUNT] oft N of n
When the police carry out a fingertip search of a place, they examine it for evidence in a very detailed way.
Officers continued a fingertip search of the area yesterday.search en|gine (search engines)
[N-COUNT]
A search engine is a computer program that searches for documents containing a particular word or words on the Internet. (COMPUTING)search out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you search something out, you keep looking for it until you find it.
Traditional Spanish food is delicious and its specialities are worth searching out...
Many people want jobs. They try to search them out every day.
= seek outsearch par|ty (search parties)
[N-COUNT]
A search party is an organized group of people who are searching for someone who is missing.search war|rant (search warrants)
[N-COUNT]
A search warrant is a special document that gives the police permission to search a house or other building.
Officers armed with a search warrant entered the flat.
1 [VERB] V for n, V for n
If you search for something or someone, you look carefully for them.
The Turkish security forces have started searching for the missing men...
Nonetheless there are signs that both sides may be searching for a compromise.
2 [VERB] V n, V n for n, V prep
If you search a place, you look carefully for something or someone there.
Armed troops searched the hospital yesterday...
She searched her desk for the necessary information...
Relief workers are still searching through collapsed buildings looking for victims.
3 [N-COUNT] oft N for n
A search is an attempt to find something or someone by looking for them carefully.
There was no chance of him being found alive and the search was abandoned...
Egypt has said there is no time to lose in the search for a Middle East settlement.
4 [VERB] V n, V n for n
If a police officer or someone else in authority searches you, they look carefully to see whether you have something hidden on you.
The man took her suitcase from her and then searched her...
His first task was to search them for weapons.
5 [VERB] V for n
If you search for information on a computer, you give the computer an instruction to find that information. (COMPUTING)
You can use a directory service to search for people on the Internet.
[N-COUNT]
Search is also a noun.
He was doing a computer search of local news articles.
6
see also searching, strip-search
7 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
If you go in search of something or someone, you try to find them.
Miserable, and unexpectedly lonely, she went in search of Jean-Paul...
The law already denies entry to people in search of better economic opportunities.
8 [CONVENTION]
You say `search me' when someone asks you a question and you want to emphasize that you do not know the answer. (INFORMAL)body search (body searches body searching body searched)
also body-search
[VERB] be V-ed, also V n
If a person is body searched, someone such as a police officer searches them while they remain clothed. Compare strip-search.
Foreign journalists were body-searched by airport police.
[N-COUNT]
Body search is also a noun.
Fans may undergo body searches by security guards.finger|tip search (fingertip searches)
[N-COUNT] oft N of n
When the police carry out a fingertip search of a place, they examine it for evidence in a very detailed way.
Officers continued a fingertip search of the area yesterday.search en|gine (search engines)
[N-COUNT]
A search engine is a computer program that searches for documents containing a particular word or words on the Internet. (COMPUTING)search out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you search something out, you keep looking for it until you find it.
Traditional Spanish food is delicious and its specialities are worth searching out...
Many people want jobs. They try to search them out every day.
= seek outsearch par|ty (search parties)
[N-COUNT]
A search party is an organized group of people who are searching for someone who is missing.search war|rant (search warrants)
[N-COUNT]
A search warrant is a special document that gives the police permission to search a house or other building.
Officers armed with a search warrant entered the flat.