v. i. To shake; to quake; to tremble. [ Obs. ] “It made all the gates for to rese.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. re- + search: cf OF. recerche, F. recherche. ] 1. Diligent inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; laborious or continued search after truth; as, researches of human wisdom; to research a topic in the library; medical research. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dearest interests of parties have frequently been staked on the results of the researches of antiquaries. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Systematic observation of phenomena for the purpose of learning new facts or testing the application of theories to known facts; -- also called scientific research. This is the research part of the phrase “research and development” (R&D). The distinctive characteristic of scientific research is the maintenance of records and careful control or observation of conditions under which the phenomena are studied so that others will be able to reproduce the observations. When the person conducting the research varies the conditions beforehand in order to test directly the effects of changing conditions on the results of the observation, such investigation is called
experimental research or
experimentation or
experimental science; it is often conducted in a laboratory. If the investigation is conducted with a view to obtaining information directly useful in producing objects with commercial or practical utility, the research is called
applied research. Investigation conducted for the primary purpose of discovering new facts about natural phenomena, or to elaborate or test theories about natural phenomena, is called
basic research or
fundamental research. Research in fields such as astronomy, in which the phenomena to be observed cannot be controlled by the experimenter, is called
observational research.
Epidemiological research is a type of observational research in which the researcher applies statistical methods to analyse patterns of occurrence of disease and its association with other phenomena within a population, with a view to understanding the origins or mode of transmission of the disease. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Investigation; examination; inquiry; scrutiny. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. re- + search: cf. OF. recerchier, F. rechercher. ] To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who conducts research. In the field of scientific research, also called an investigator or scientist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Making researches; inquisitive. [ R. ] Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To seat or set again, as on a chair, throne, etc. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put a new seat, or new seats, in; as, to reseat a theater; to reseat a chair or trousers. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A network; specif.: (a) (Astron.) A system of lines forming small squares of standard size, which is photographed, by a separate exposure, on the same plate with star images to facilitate measurements, detect changes of the film, etc. (b) In lace, a ground or foundation of regular meshes, like network. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Resected;p. pr. & vb. n. Resecting. ] [ L. resectus, p. p. of resecare to cut off; pref. re- re- + secare to cut. ] To cut or pare off; to remove by cutting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. resectio: cf. F. résection. ] 1. The act of cutting or paring off. Cotgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Surg.) The removal of the articular extremity of a bone, or of the ends of the bones in a false articulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. , a kind of plant. ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of plants, the type of which is mignonette. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A grayish green color, like that of the flowers of mignonette. [ 1913 Webster ]