WordWeb Online

1. Determine the existence, presence, or fact of
   "She discovered high levels of lead in her drinking water";
   - detect, observe, find, notice
    
2. Get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
   "I discovered that she has two grown-up children";
   - learn, hear, get word, get wind, pick up, find out, get a line, see
    
3. Make a discovery, make a new finding
   "Roentgen discovered X-rays";
   - find
    
4. Find unexpectedly
   "she discovered a goldmine";
   - fall upon, strike, come upon, light upon, chance upon, come across, chance on, happen upon, attain
    
5. Make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
   "discover the evidence in the murder case";
   - unwrap, disclose, let on, bring out, reveal, expose, divulge, break, give away, let out, uncover, lay bare
    
6. See for the first time; make a discovery
   "Who discovered the North Pole?"
    
7. Classify or apply the appropriate name to, e.g. in botany or biology
   - identify, key, key out, distinguish, describe, name

Derived forms: discovered, discovering, discovers

Type of: conceive, conceptualise [Brit], conceptualize, descry, espy, find, gestate, regain, sight, spot, spy, tell

Encyclopedia: Discover