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ferret
1[ fer-it ]
noun
- a domesticated, usually red-eyed, and albinic variety of the polecat, used in Europe for driving rabbits and rats from their burrows.
verb (used with object)
- to drive out by using or as if using a ferret (often followed 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 followed by out ):
to ferret out the facts.
- to harry, worry, or torment:
His problems ferreted him day and night.
verb (used without object)
- to search about.
ferret
2[ fer-it ]
noun
- a narrow tape or ribbon, as of silk or cotton, used for binding, trimming, etc.
ferret
1/ ˈfɛrɪt /
noun
- silk binding tape
ferret
2/ ˈfɛrɪt /
noun
- a domesticated albino variety of the polecat Mustela putorius , bred for hunting rats, rabbits, etc
- an assiduous searcher
- black-footed ferretblack-footed ferret a musteline mammal, Mustela nigripes , of W North America, closely related to the weasels
verb
- to hunt (rabbits, rats, etc) with ferrets
- trusually foll byout to drive from hiding
to ferret out snipers
- trusually foll byout to find by persistent investigation
- intr to search around
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Derived Forms
- ˈferreter, noun
- ˈferrety, adjective
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Other Words From
- ferret·er noun
- ferret·y adjective
- un·ferret·ed adjective
- un·ferret·ing adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of ferret1
Origin of ferret2
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Example Sentences
Ferret is a carefully chosen comparison, implying diligence but absolutely no imagination.
What I saw was a careful and ingenious reporter ferret out a fraud with care.
That alone provides a powerful incentive for civil society to try to ferret out the numbers.
They were used to ferret rebel fighters out of their strongholds.
Reich, the former American diplomat, says he thinks Morales might just be crazy enough to ferret Snowden to La Paz.
A soldier is not a conjurer that he should be handed over a fully laden ship and told to ferret out a fuse key.
Where you like; there must be two or three remaining in the neighborhood, so ferret them out and bring them here.
Oh, if he'd a notion I was within twenty miles of him, he'd ferret me out to pay off old grudges.
I stuck my hand down, and it was given a vicious bite by a white, pink-eyed ferret Paul was carrying there.
He was endeavoring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighboring church clock struck twelve.
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