*sear*

v. i. [ OF. encerchier. See Search. ] To make search; to try to find something. [ Obs. ] -- v. t. To search for. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make search after; to investigate or examine; to ensearch. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To search all over. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be brittle when red-hot; to be red-short. Moxon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. re- + search: cf OF. recerche, F. recherche. ] 1. Diligent inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; laborious or continued search after truth; as, researches of human wisdom; to research a topic in the library; medical research. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dearest interests of parties have frequently been staked on the results of the researches of antiquaries. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Systematic observation of phenomena for the purpose of learning new facts or testing the application of theories to known facts; -- also called scientific research. This is the research part of the phrase “research and development” (R&D). The distinctive characteristic of scientific research is the maintenance of records and careful control or observation of conditions under which the phenomena are studied so that others will be able to reproduce the observations. When the person conducting the research varies the conditions beforehand in order to test directly the effects of changing conditions on the results of the observation, such investigation is called
experimental research or
experimentation or
experimental science; it is often conducted in a laboratory. If the investigation is conducted with a view to obtaining information directly useful in producing objects with commercial or practical utility, the research is called
applied research. Investigation conducted for the primary purpose of discovering new facts about natural phenomena, or to elaborate or test theories about natural phenomena, is called
basic research or
fundamental research. Research in fields such as astronomy, in which the phenomena to be observed cannot be controlled by the experimenter, is called
observational research.
Epidemiological research is a type of observational research in which the researcher applies statistical methods to analyse patterns of occurrence of disease and its association with other phenomena within a population, with a view to understanding the origins or mode of transmission of the disease. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Investigation; examination; inquiry; scrutiny. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. re- + search: cf. OF. recerchier, F. rechercher. ] To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. re- + search. ] To search again; to examine anew. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who conducts research. In the field of scientific research, also called an investigator or scientist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Making researches; inquisitive. [ R. ] Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Seared p. pr. & vb. n. Searing. ] [ OE. seeren, AS. seárian. See Sear, a. ] 1. To wither; to dry up. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To burn (the surface of) to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat such as changes the color or the hardness and texture of the surface; to scorch; to make callous; as, to sear the skin or flesh. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'm seared with burning steel. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was in vain that the amiable divine tried to give salutary pain to that seared conscience. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The discipline of war, being a discipline in destruction of life, is a discipline in callousness. Whatever sympathies exist are seared. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sear is allied to scorch in signification; but it is applied primarily to animal flesh, and has special reference to the effect of heat in marking the surface hard. Scorch is applied to flesh, cloth, or any other substance, and has no reference to the effect of hardness. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sear up, to close by searing. “Cherish veins of good humor, and sear up those of ill.” Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. serre a grasp, pressing, fr. L. sera. See Serry. ] The catch in a gunlock by which the hammer is held cocked or half cocked. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sear spring, the spring which causes the sear to catch in the notches by which the hammer is held. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Sarse. ] A fine sieve. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sift; to bolt. [ Obs. ] Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who sifts or bolts. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A searce, or sieve. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Searched p. pr. & vb. n. Searching. ] [ OE. serchen, cerchen, OF. cerchier, F. chercher, L. circare to go about, fr. L. circum, circa, around. See Circle. ] 1. To look over or through, for the purpose of finding something; to examine; to explore; as, to search the city. “Search the Scriptures.” John v. 39. [ 1913 Webster ]

They are come to search the house. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Search me, O God, and know my heart. Ps. cxxxix. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inquire after; to look for; to seek. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will both search my sheep, and seek them out. Ezek. xxxiv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enough is left besides to search and know. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To examine or explore by feeling with an instrument; to probe; as, to search a wound. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To examine; to try; to put to the test. [ 1913 Webster ]

To search out, to seek till found; to find by seeking; as, to search out truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To explore; examine; scrutinize; seek; investigate; pry into; inquire. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To seek; to look for something; to make inquiry, exploration, or examination; to hunt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Once more search with me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

It sufficeth that they have once with care sifted the matter, and searched into all the particulars. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. cerche. See Search, v. t. ] The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry; pursuit for finding something; examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus the orb he roamed
With narrow search, and with inspection deep
Considered every creature. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor did my search of liberty begin
Till my black hairs were changed upon my chin. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Right of search (Mar. Law), the right of the lawfully commissioned cruisers of belligerent nations to examine and search private merchant vessels on the high seas, for the enemy's property or for articles contraband of war. --
Search warrant (Law), a warrant legally issued, authorizing an examination or search of a house, or other place, for goods stolen, secreted, or concealed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Scrutiny; examination; exploration; investigation; research; inquiry; quest; pursuit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being searched. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being searchable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. cercheor inspector. ] One who, or that which, searches or examines; a seeker; an inquirer; an examiner; a trier. Specifically: (a) Formerly, an officer in London appointed to examine the bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death. Graunt. (b) An officer of the customs whose business it is to search ships, merchandise, luggage, etc. (c) An inspector of leather. [ Prov. Eng. ] (d) (Gun.) An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon, to detect cavities. (e) An implement for sampling butter; a butter trier. (j) (Med.) An instrument for feeling after calculi in the bladder, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Exploring thoroughly; scrutinizing; penetrating; trying; as, a searching discourse; a searching eye. “Piercing, searching, biting, cold.” Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Search"ing*ly, adv. -- Search"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Impossible to be searched; inscrutable; impenetrable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (a) An apparatus for projecting a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays, usually devised so that it can be swiveled about. (b) The beam of light projecting by this apparatus. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To cover, as a sore, with cerecloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Cerecloth. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Scorched; cauterized; hence, figuratively, insensible; not susceptible to moral influences. [ 1913 Webster ]

A seared conscience and a remorseless heart. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being seared or callous; insensibility. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ OE. seer, AS. seár (assumed) fr. seárian to wither; akin to D. zoor dry, LG. soor, OHG. sorēn to wither, Gr. a"y`ein to parch, to dry, Skr. çush (for sush) to dry, to wither, Zend hush to dry. √152. Cf. Austere, Sorrel, a.] Dry; withered; no longer green; -- applied to leaves. Milton. [1913 Webster]

I have lived long enough; my way of life
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf. Shak. [1913 Webster]

a. Not searchable; inscrutable; hidden; mysterious. [ 1913 Webster ]

The counsels of God are to us unsearchable. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un*search"a*ble*ness, n. -- Un*search"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]