find

verb (past and past participle found)

1》 discover by chance or deliberately.

    ↘(find something out or find out about something) discover information or a fact.

    ↘succeed in obtaining: he's struggling to find the money for the trip.

    ↘(find someone out) detect someone in a crime or lie.

2》 identify as being present: vitamin B12 is found in dairy products.

    ↘discover or perceive to be the case.

    ↘ascertain by research or calculation.

    ↘Law (of a court) officially declare to be the case.

    ↘(find against or for) Law (of a court) make a decision against (or in favour of); judge to be guilty (or innocent).

3》 reach or arrive at by a natural or normal process: water finds its own level.

    ↘(find one's way) reach one's destination, typically without first knowing how to get there.

noun a discovery of something valuable or interesting, typically an archaeological one.

↘a person who is found to be useful or interesting.

Phrases

all found Brit. dated (of an employee's wages) with board and lodging provided free.

find one's feet stand up and become able to walk.

↘establish oneself in a particular field.

find it in one's heart to do [usu. with negative] allow or force oneself to do.

Derivatives

findable adjective

Origin

OE findan, of Gmc origin.