1246
piece of meat) quickly, usually to keep its juice in 3 to dry up (a plant); cause to WITHER -> see also SEARING
sear² adj SERE
search¹ /sɜːtʃ||sɜːrtʃ/ v 1 [I(through);T (for)] to look at, through, into etc, or examine (a place or person) carefully and thoroughly to try to find something: I've been searching high and low/everywhere but I can't find it. | I searched through his pockets for a cigarette. | Scientists are still searching for a cure to the common cold. | She searched desperately for some reason to stay. | We searched the house from top to bottom. | The police searched the suspect but found no weapon on him. | They searched the woods for the little boy. | a computer program that searches text for spelling errors | She searched his face for some indication of how he felt. | (fig.) I've searched my conscience (=thought hard about whether I acted correctly) and I still think I did the right thing. | (fml) to search after truth 2 Search me! infml I don't know!: 'What's the time?' 'Search me! I haven't got a watch.' -> -er n
search sthg./sbdy. <-> out phr v [T] to find (out) or uncover by searching: With clever questioning the lawyer searched out the weaknesses in the witness's statement.
search² n [(for)] 1 an act of searching: The police conducted a long search for the lost child. | We did a computer search for all the hyphenated words. | I went off in search of (=to try to find) a garage where I could buy some petrol. | birds flying south in search of winter sun 2 search and rescue an act of searching, especially in the mountains, sea, forest etc, for people who are lost and may need medical help when found. This is often done by people who are specially trained: a search and rescue operation for the lost boy
'search engine n a computer PROGRAM that allows you to search for information on the INTERNET. To use a search engine, you type a word, name etc, and the program then searches for all the WEBSITES that include this word. Well-known search engines include AltaVista and Yahoo. -> compare BROWSER
search-ing /'sɜːtʃɪŋ||'sɜːr-/ adj sharp and thorough; anxious to discover the truth; PENETRATING: She gave me a searching look, as if doubting what I told her. | a searching review of police procedures -> -ly adv
search-light /'sɜːtʃlaɪt||'sɜːr-/ n a large light with a powerful beam which can be turned in any direction, used for looking for aircraft in the sky at night, for lighting up prison walls so that prisoners cannot escape in the dark etc
'search party n [C+sing./pl. v] a group of people searching, especially for a lost person: After the climbers had been missing for six hours, search parties were sent out.
'search warrant n a written order given by a court to police to allow them to search a place, e.g. to look for stolen goods. Police may not enter a building and search it without either the owner's permission or a search warrant: to issue a search warrant
sear-ing /'sɪərɪŋ/ adj 1 burning; unpleasantly hot: A searing pain shot through her leg. | the searing heat of the desert 2 infml causing or describing very strong feelings, especially of a sexual kind: a searing novel of love and passion
Sears /sɪəz||sɪərz/ also Sears 'Roebuck & Co. trademark a large US store that sells most things, including clothes, tools, furniture, and electrical equipment for the home. Most large cities in the US have a Sears.
'Sears Tower the tallest building in North America, which is in Chicago, Illinois. It is 442 metres or 1450 feet tall.
seas /siːz/ n [(the) U] the great body of salty water that covers much of the Earth's surface; ocean -> see also HIGH SEAS, SEA
sea-scape /'siːskeɪp/ n a picture of a scene at sea -> compare LANDSCAPE
'sea scout n (often caps.) a member of a group of usually young people who specialize in sea and water activities -> see also SCOUT
'sea serpent n an imaginary large snake-like animal once believed to live in the sea: Old maps often picture sea serpents swimming in the oceans.
sea-shell /'siːʃel/ also shell n a shell of a sea animal, such as a COCKLE, WINKLE etc, especially as found on the seashore.
When people find large seashells they often hold them to their ears because it is said that if you do this you will hear the sound of the sea coming from the shell.
sea-shore /'siːʃɔːr/ n [(the) U] land along the edge of the sea, usually sand or rocks
sea-sick /'siːsɪk/ adj sick because of the movement of a ship -> -ness n [U]
sea-side /'siːsaɪd/ [(the)] 1 the edge of the sea, especially as a holiday place: We spent two weeks at/by the seaside in the summer. | seaside resorts -> see Feature on page A22 2 I do like to be beside the seaside the first line of a popular old British song now used in other ways: Britons no longer like to be beside the seaside: the era of the bucket and spade holiday seems to be over. -> compare BEACH, COAST; see SHORE (USAGE)
CULTURAL NOTE Although seaside holidays in the UK are not as popular as they used to be, many British people still go to a seaside town for their summer holidays. The STEREOTYPE is of a family who go to the beach for a PICNIC even if the weather is cold and windy. The parents sit in DECKCHAIRS and the children build SANDCASTLES, go for DONKEY rides, and eat ROCK (=a hard sticky sweet) or ICE CREAM. Many seaside towns have a PIER (=a long wooden structure that is built out over the sea for people to walk along), which usually has an AMUSEMENT ARCADE where people can play VIDEO GAMES or ONE-ARMED BANDITS (=a machine that you put money in to try and win more money). -> see Cultural Note at HOLIDAY
sea-son¹ /'siːzən/ n 1 spring, summer, autumn, or winter 2 a period of time each year marked by a) weather: the rainy season b) greater or less activity: After Christmas is the quiet season for business. c) a sporting activity: (The) football season begins next week. d) a particular farming activity: the planting season e) a particular animal activity: the mating season f) hunting, fishing etc: the coarse fishing season 3 infml for SEASON TICKET 4 in season a) (of fresh foods) at the time when they are usually ready for eating: Fruit is cheapest in season. b) (especially of holiday business) at the busiest time of year: Hotels cost more in season. c) (of certain female animals) on HEAT d) (of an animal) permitted to be hunted at the time: Are grouse in season now? 5 out of season not in SEASON 6 Season's Greetings! (a greeting on a card sent during the Christmas SEASON¹) especially in the US, this greeting is often sent to people who are not Christians and to whom it might be unsuitable to say 'Merry Christmas' 7 season of goodwill a way of describing Christmas, suggesting that it is a time when people should behave in a kind, friendly way to each other 8 season of mists and mellow fruitfulness quote the first line of the poem To Autumn by John KEATS, remembered and reused by many people: Does the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness send you scurrying to the shops to get your Christmas shopping done? -> see also CLOSE SEASON, HIGH SEASON, LOW SEASON, OPEN SEASON, SILLY SEASON
season² v [T] i^[(with)] to give special taste to (a food) by adding salt, pepper, a SPICE etc -> see also SEASONING 2 to make (wood) hard and fit for use by gradual drying
Season, the -> see LONDON SEASON
sea-son-able /'siːzənəbəl/ adj fml 1 suitable or useful for the time of year: seasonable weather. 2 coming at a good or proper time: seasonable advice -> compare SEASONAL -> -bly adv
sea-son-al /'siːzənəl/ adj depending on the seasons, especially happening or active only at a particular time of the year: seasonal employment at a holiday camp -> compare SEASONABLE
,seasonal af.fective dis'order abbrev. SAD n [U] an illness that makes people feel sad and tired in winter, because there is not enough light from the sun
,seasonally ad.justed 'figures n [P] the number of people with no job which increases at certain times of the year, e.g. in February which is a low period for farmers and in July when young people leave school: The seasonally-adjusted figure has risen by 70,000.
sea-soned /'siːzənd/ adj apprec having much experience in the stated activity: a seasoned traveller/journalist