ferret

(fĕrˈĭt)

1. A weasellike, usually albino mammal (Mustela putorius furo) related to the polecat and often trained to hunt rats or rabbits.
2. A black-footed ferret.

1. a. To hunt (rabbits, for example) with ferrets.
   b. To drive out, as from a hiding place; expel.
2. To uncover and bring to light by searching. Often used with out: “Their work merely points the way for others to ferret out the core components of all proteins” (Natalie Angier).
3. To hound or harry persistently; worry.

1. To engage in hunting with ferrets.
2. To search intensively.

Related Forms:

• ferˈret·er noun

• ferˈret·y adjective

(fĕrˈĭt) also fer·ret·ing (-ĭ-tĭng)