English主要词典
discover
Universal Words
verb
1 [VN] 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.
2 to find sb/sth that was hidden or that you did not expect to find:
[VN] Police discovered a large stash of drugs while searching the house. * We discovered this beach while we were sailing around the island. * [VN-ing] He was discovered hiding in a shed. * [VN-ADJ] She was discovered dead at her home in Leeds.
3 to find out about sth; to find some information about sth:
[VN] I've just discovered hang-gliding! * [V(that)] It was a shock to discover (that) he couldn't read. * [Vwh-] We never did discover why she gave up her job. * [VNthat] It was later discovered that the diaries were a fraud. * [VNtoinf] He was later discovered to be seriously ill.
HELPNOTE This pattern is usually used in the passive.
4 [VN] [oftenpassive] to be the first person to realize that sb is very good at singing, acting, etc. and help them to become successful and famous:
The singer was discovered while still at school.
discoverer noun:
the discoverer of penicillin * I was the lucky discoverer of a very valuable painting.
______________________________
WHICHWORD?
discover / invent / find out / learn / know
If you invent something, you make or design something that did not exist before.
If you discover something, you find something that already exists or learn about it for the first time, before anyone else does: Who discovered America?
You can also discover a piece of information that other people knew but you didn't: When did you discover that she's married?
If you learn something, you come to know it by study or enquiry: learning new vocabulary.
You can find something out either by chance or by study or enquiry: When did you find out that she's married?
If you know something, you have that knowledge or information in your mind: I couldn't find out what the word meant as it wasn't in my dictionary, but John told me, so now I know it.
______________________________
