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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024fer•ret1 /ˈfɛrɪt/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Mammalsa tame variety of the polecat, used esp. in Europe for driving rodents from their burrows.
v. - to drive out by or as if by using a ferret: [~ + object]to ferret rabbits from their burrows.[~ + out + object]to ferret out enemies.[~ + object + out]to ferret them out.
- to search out;
bring to light: [~ + out + object]to ferret out the facts.[~ + object + out]to ferret it out.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024fer•ret1 (fer′it),USA pronunciation n. - Mammalsa domesticated, usually red-eyed, and albinic variety of the polecat, used in Europe for driving rabbits and rats from their burrows.
- MammalsSee black-footed ferret.
v.t. - to drive out by using or as if using a ferret (often fol. by out):to ferret rabbits from their burrows; to ferret out enemies.
- to hunt with ferrets.
- to hunt over with ferrets:to ferret a field.
- to search out, discover, or bring to light (often fol. by out):to ferret out the facts.
- to harry, worry, or torment:His problems ferreted him day and night.
v.i. - to search about.
- Latin) + -ittus -et
- Vulgar Latin *furittus, equivalent. to fūr thief (
- Middle French furet
- Middle English fer(r)et(te), fyret, furet 1350–1400
- Clothinga narrow tape or ribbon, as of silk or cotton, used for binding, trimming, etc.
- Latin flōrem; see flower) + -etto -et
- alteration of Italian fioretto floss silk, literally, little flower, equivalent. to fior(e) (1570–80
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: ferret /ˈfɛrɪt/ n - a domesticated albino variety of the polecat Mustela putorius, bred for hunting rats, rabbits, etc
- an assiduous searcher
vb ( -rets, -reting, -reted)- to hunt (rabbits, rats, etc) with ferrets
- (transitive) usually followed by out: to drive from hiding: to ferret out snipers
- (transitive) usually followed by out: to find by persistent investigation
- (intransitive) to search around
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French furet, from Latin fur thiefˈferreter n ˈferrety adj |