hunt
hunt / hənt/ • v. 1. [tr.] pursue and kill (a wild animal) for sport or food: in the autumn they hunted deer | [intr.] they hunted and fished. ∎ (of an animal) chase and kill (its prey): mice are hunted by weasels and foxes | [intr.] lionesses hunt in groups. ∎ [intr.] try to find someone or something by searching carefully: he desperately hunted for a new job. ∎ (hunt something out/up) search for something until it is found. ∎ [tr.] (of the police) search for (a criminal): the gang is being hunted by police | [intr.] police are hunting for her attacker. ∎ (hunt someone down) pursue and capture someone. 2. [intr.] (of a machine, instrument needle, or system) oscillate around a desired speed, position, or state. ∎ (of an aircraft or rocket) oscillate around a mean flight path. ∎ (of an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle) keep shifting between gears because of improperly designed shift logic. 3. [intr.] (hunt down/up) (in change-ringing) move the place of a bell in a simple progression.• n. 1. an act of hunting wild animals or game. ∎ an association of people who meet regularly to hunt, esp. with hounds. ∎ an area where hunting takes place. ∎ a search: police launched a hunt for the killer. 2. an oscillating motion around a desired speed, position, or state.