sleuth

[ slooth ]

/ sluθ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sleuth ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a detective.

a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.

verb (used with or without object)

to track or trail, as a detective.

Nearby words

Origin of sleuth

First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound

Related formssleuth·like, adjectivesu·per·sleuth, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sleuth

If only there were some massive government apparatus available to us to sift through the metadata and sleuth these fakers out.
PS 4 Beats Xbox One For Best New Video Game Console|Winston Ross|June 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some firms charge several thousands of dollars per hour for the sleuth work of a team of six to eight investigators.
Inside the Hunt for Assad’s Billions|Eli Lake|August 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
[Styleite] On the DL: Kate Bosworth was sleuth in announcing her engagement to actor Michael Polish.
Lady Gaga Covers Vogue With RuPaul Hair; Kate Bosworth Engaged|The Daily Beast|August 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“Apana once climbed up walls like a pre-Spiderman sleuth and slipped into an opium dive,” writes Huang.
The Legend of Charlie Chan|Paul Devlin|September 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST

That sleuth is Peter Darwin—no relation to Charles, thanks kindly.
Do I Have to Read Dick Francis?|William Boot|February 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Back in a darkened corner of the drawing-room of the rearmost sleeper the sleuth snored with both eyes and ears open.
The Last Spike|Cy Warman
Not likely, after you and your sleuth hounds had been over the ground!
Simon|J. Storer Clouston
Why, returned Sleuth instantly, I just said I came round to make you a little call.
The New Boys at Oakdale|Morgan Scott
The preacher was as "one-ideaed" as a sleuth hound in pursuit of his quarry.
Into the Highways and Hedges|F. F. Montrsor (Frances Frederica)
Here, yeou better let Sleuth slaughter the language that fashion, grinned Crane.
The New Boys at Oakdale|Morgan Scott

British Dictionary definitions for sleuth

sleuth

/ (sluːθ) /

noun

an informal word for detective

short for sleuthhound (def. 1)

verb

(tr) to track or follow

Word Origin for sleuth

C19: short for sleuthhound, from C12 sleuth trail, from Old Norse sloth; see slot ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sleuth

sleuth

c.1200, "track or trail of a person," from Old Norse sloð "trail," of uncertain origin. Meaning "detective" is 1872, shortening of sleuth-hound "keen investigator" (1849), a figurative use of a word that dates back to late 14c. meaning a kind of bloodhound. The verb (intransitive) meaning "to act as a detective, investigate" is recorded from 1905. Related: Sleuthed; sleuthing.

sleuth

noun

verb (used with or without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of sleuth

Examples from the Web for sleuth

British Dictionary definitions for sleuth

sleuth

noun

verb

Word Origin for sleuth

Word Origin and History for sleuth

sleuth