hʌnt v. & n. --v. 1 tr. (also absol.) a
pursue and kill (wild animals,
esp. foxes, or game), esp. on
horseback and
with hounds,
for sport or
food. b (of an animal) chase (its prey). 2 intr. (foll. by
after, for)
seek,
search (hunting for a pen). 3 intr. a
oscillate. b (of an
engine etc.)
run alternately
too fast and too
slow. 4 tr. (foll. by
away etc.)
drive off by
pursuit. 5 tr. scour (a district) in pursuit of game. 6 tr. (as hunted adj.) (of a
look etc.) expressing
alarm or
terror as of
one being hunted. 7 tr. (foll. by down, up)
move the place of (a bell) in ringing the changes. --n. 1 the
practice of
hunting or an
instance of
this. 2 a an
association of
people engaged in hunting with hounds. b an
area where hunting takes place. 3 an oscillating
motion. øhunt down pursue and
capture. hunt
out find by searching; track down. [OE huntian,
weak grade of hentan seize]