discovery

/dəˈskʌvəri/

/dɪsˈkʌvəri/

Other forms: discoveries

The noun discovery means the finding or uncovering of something. The discovery of a body is usually an important plot point in a mystery novel.

The process of finding, realizing, or unearthing something is discovery, like your discovery of a live lizard in the birthday box your aunt mailed from Arizona. The lizard is also a discovery — the thing that is found. In law, discovery means the obligation to reveal any relevant documents to the opposing party in a legal case. The Latin root, discooperire, basically translates as "the opposite of covering something up."

Definitions of discovery

1. noun

   the act of discovering something
   synonyms: find, uncovering

   types:

   tracing

   the discovery and description of the course of development of something

   catching, detection, espial, spotting, spying

   the act of detecting something; catching sight of something

   self-discovery

   discovering your own individuality

   breakthrough

   making an important discovery

   determination, finding

   the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

   rediscovery

   the act of discovering again

   designation, identification

   the act of designating or identifying something

   resolution, solving

   finding a solution to a problem

   proof, substantiation, validation

   the act of validating; finding or testing the truth of something

   disproof, falsification, falsifying, refutal, refutation

   the act of determining that something is false

   fix, localisation, localization, locating, location

   a determination of the place where something is

   predetermination

   the act of determining or ordaining in advance what is to take place

   rectification

   determination of the length of a curve; finding a straight line equal in length to a given curve

   redetermination

   determining again

   type of:

   act, deed, human action, human activity

   something that people do or cause to happen
2. noun

   something that is discovered
   type of:

   disclosure, revealing, revelation

   the act of making something evident
3. noun

   a productive insight
   synonyms: breakthrough, find

   type of:

   brainstorm, brainwave, insight

   the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation
4. noun

   (law) compulsory pretrial disclosure of documents relevant to a case; enables one side in a litigation to elicit information from the other side concerning the facts in the case
   type of:

   disclosure, revealing, revelation

   the act of making something evident