Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):
   • To find or learn something for the first time: To be the first to observe, encounter, or understand something previously unknown.
   • To find something or someone unexpectedly or by searching: To locate or become aware of something that was hidden, lost, or not known.
   • To make known or reveal: To disclose or bring to light information that was secret or unknown.

Usage and Examples

• To find or learn something for the first time:
  • Scientists hope to discover a cure for the disease.
  • Marie Curie discovered the elements polonium and radium.
• To find something unexpectedly or by searching:
  • I discovered an old photograph in the back of the drawer.
  • The police discovered new evidence at the scene.
• To make known or reveal:
  • The investigation discovered serious flaws in the system. (This usage is less common; 'reveal' or 'uncover' is often preferred.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Discover oneself": To learn about one's own character, abilities, or desires.
  • During her travels, she began to discover herself.
• In legal contexts: To obtain information or evidence through the legal process of discovery.
  • The defense attorney sought to discover all relevant documents.

Variants and Related Words

• Discovery (n): The act of discovering or the thing that is discovered.
  • The discovery of penicillin revolutionized medicine.
• Discoverer (n): A person who discovers something.
• Undiscovered (adj): Not yet found or known.

Synonyms

• Find: To encounter or locate something.
• Uncover: To reveal or expose something hidden.
• Detect: To notice or identify the presence of something.
• Learn: To gain knowledge of something.
• Ascertain: To find out with certainty.

Phrasal Verbs

• Discover something about: To learn specific information concerning something.
  • We discovered some interesting facts about the city's history.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Discover the hard way: To learn something through unpleasant experience rather than being told.
  • He discovered the hard way that you shouldn't touch a hot stove.
• Discover to one's cost: Similar to "discover the hard way," emphasizing the personal loss or trouble involved in the discovery.
  • She discovered to her cost that not all business partners are trustworthy.

Verb

1. identify as in botany or biology, for example
2. see for the first time; make a discovery
   • Who discovered the North Pole?
3. make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
   • The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold
   • The actress won't reveal how old she is
   • bring out the truth
   • he broke the news to her
   • unwrap the evidence in the murder case
4. find unexpectedly
   • the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
   • she struck a goldmine
   • The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
5. make a discovery
   • She found that he had lied to her
   • The story is false, so far as I can discover
6. make a discovery, make a new finding
   • Roentgen discovered X-rays
   • Physicists believe they found a new elementary particle
7. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
   • I learned that she has two grown-up children
   • I see that you have been promoted
8. discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
   • She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water
   • We found traces of lead in the paint