discover
$ \mathrm{discover} /dɪˈskʌvə(r)/
verb (discovers, discovered, discovering) A2 OPAL S
1 discover something to be the first person to become aware that a particular place or thing exists
Cook is credited with discovering Hawaii.
Scientists around the world are working to discover a cure for AIDS.
a newly discovered snake species
They first discovered this protein about five years ago.
She recently discovered two fungi that were new to science.
TOPICS Scientific research A2
Collocations
adverb
quickly
soon
suddenly
verb + discover
be amazed to
be astonished to
be astounded to…
phrases
an attempt to discover something
newly discovered
recently discovered
2 to find somebody/something that was hidden or that you did not expect to find
discover somebody/something
Police discovered a large stash of drugs while searching the house.
We discovered this beach while we were sailing around the island.
His body was discovered in the lake near his house.
discover somebody/something doing something
He was discovered hiding in a shed.
discover somebody/something + adj.
She was discovered dead at her home in Leeds.
3 to find out about something; to find some information about something
discover something
She was determined to discover the truth about her neighbours.
to discover a secret
I've just discovered hang-gliding!
Discover the joys of yoga!
discover (that)…
It was a shock to discover (that) he couldn’t read.
discover why, how, etc…
We never did discover why she gave up her job.
it is discovered that…
It was later discovered that the diaries were a fraud.
somebody/something is discovered to be/have…
He was later discovered to be seriously ill.
4 ​often passive to be the first person to realize that somebody is very good at singing, acting, etc. and help them to become successful and famous
be discovered
The singer was discovered while still at school.
There's great talent out there just waiting to be discovered.
Word Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘make known’): from Old French descovrir, from late Latin discooperire, from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + cooperire ‘cover completely’, from co- (expressing intensive force) + operire ‘to cover’.