discover Hear it!

discover Definition

dis·cover (di skuv′ər)

transitive verb

  1. to be the first to find out, see, or know about
  2. to find out; learn of the existence of; realize
  3. to be the first nonnative person to find, come to, or see (a continent, river, etc.)
  4. to bring to prominence; make famous
    1. Now Rare to reveal; disclose; expose
    2. Archaic to uncover

Etymology: ME discoveren < OFr descovrir < LL discooperire, to discover, reveal: see dis- & cover

discover Related Forms
dis·cov′·er·able adjective dis·cov′er·er noun
discover Synonyms

discover

v.

find, find out, invent, learn, ascertain, detect, discern, descry, recognize, distinguish, determine, observe, contrive, explore, find out once and for all, hear of, hear about, open one's eyes, awake to, gain knowledge of, become aware of, become conscious of, bring to light, uncover, ferret out, root out, trace, elicit, unearth, look up, come on, happen on, run across, come across, light on, hit upon, stumble upon, strike upon, strike, fall upon, meet with, encounter, think of, come up with, perceive, glimpse, identify, devise, disinter, catch, spot, locate, notice, realize, create, make out, evolve, sense, feel, sight, smell, hear, see, spy, bring out, find a clue, catch a glimpse of, get wise to*, dig out*, dig up*, turn up*, sniff out*, nose out*, get wind of*, get one's hands on*, put one's hands on*, lay one's hands on*, put one's finger on*, run down*, track down*, smoke out*; see also find 1, invent 1, learn 2.

Antonyms miss*, pass by*, overlook. See syn. study at learn.learn.

discover Usage Examples

Object

  • truth: Other countries have discovered these truths the hard way.
  • secret: Discover the Secrets of the Grand Chocolat, the Grand Crus of chocolate, which has been made in the Ardeche since 1922.
  • joy: Above all Jonathan helped me to free myself from my fears and to discover the joy of playing in ' scary ' places.
  • treasure: Mendelssohn discovered hidden treasure which he brought to the attention of the public ( see Matthew 13.
  • talent: You will discover new talents and easily identify many species by the course end.
  • meaning: Overview This exercise uses a simple concordancer to discover the meaning of words in context.

Subject

  • accident: Discovered by accident in the late 1920s, the Pcs have many industrial uses.

Adjective complement

  • more: Over the next few days, we discover more of the beauties of the island.

Modifying Another Word

  • newly: We then investigated these newly discovered areas in the field.
  • soon: They soon discover they just did... ' For lots of lethal violence involving high-tech weaponry.
  • recently: Lectures I've recently discovered the LSE free public lecture program.

Used with why or when

  • who: Barnaby sets out to discover who has perpetrated the crime.
  • what: Through the Internet, you'll be able to discover what you'll never hear on the six o'clock news.
  • which: Then simply move your mouse around the picture to discover which bits take you where.
  • why: Psychologists for the last 15 years have been trying to discover why the number 3 stimulates the human brain.
  • where: Visiting NHS Direct in March, it had been quite difficult to discover where to access information in relation to heart disease.
  • when: The vocational route is sometimes regarded as being second-class, as we discovered when we examined criticisms of our own system.

Preposition: in

  • 1950s: Nearby, a Roman kiln was discovered in the 1950s and an archeological survey was carried out with local schools in 2002.
  • basement: Two squabbling brothers are propelled into deepest space while playing a mysterious game they discovered in the basement of their old house.

Preposition: by

  • accident: Discovered by accident in the late 1920s, the Pcs have many industrial uses.
discover Quotes

There is only one constant preoccupation: I have throughout been anxious to discover how much we can be said to know and with what degree of certainty or doubtfulness.

—Russell, Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl

We listen to others to discover what we ourselves believe.

—Grant, George P

It is a fraud of the Christian system to call the sciences human invention; it is only theapplication of themthat is human. Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable asthose by whichthe universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles, he can only discover them.

—Paine,Thomas

We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery. 797

—Smiles, Samuel

   I would that with sleepy, soft embraces The sea would fold meöwould find me rest In luminous shades of her secret places, In depths where her marvels are manifest; So the earth beneath her should not discover My hidden couchönor the heaven above herö As a strong love shielding a weary lover, I would have her shield me with shining breast.

—Gordon, Adam Lindsay

Danser, c'est de¤  couvrir et recre¤  er, surtout lorsque la danse est danse d'amour. C'est, en tout cas, le meilleur mode de connaissance. To dance is to discover and to recreate, above all when the dance is the dance of love. It is the best mode of knowledge.

—Senghor, Le¤  opold Se¤  dar