hunting
n.-
1 chasing animals (n.) A2 Elementarythe act of finding and killing wild animals for food or as a hobby.
the pursuit and killing of wild animals for sustenance, commercial profit, or recreation.
ExampleIn some cultures, hunting is still a necessary way to provide food for the family.
ExampleThe government introduced stricter regulations on deer hunting to ensure the local population remained at a sustainable level throughout the winter.
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2 searching for something (n.) B1 Intermediatethe act of looking for something you need, like a new job or a place to live.
the systematic process of searching for a specific object, person, or opportunity.
ExampleAfter months of job hunting, she finally received an offer from a great company.
ExampleHouse hunting in a competitive market requires patience and the ability to make a decision the moment a property becomes available.
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3 unstable movement (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Sciencea situation where a machine or system keeps moving back and forth because it cannot find the right balance.
an undesirable oscillation or fluctuation in a control system that fails to reach a steady state.
ExampleThe engine was hunting, with the speed going up and down instead of staying steady.
ExampleThe technician noticed the thermostat was hunting, causing the heating system to cycle on and off rapidly without reaching the target temperature.
UsageUncountable when referring to the general phenomenon in engineering.
From Middle English hunting, from Old English huntung, equivalent to hunt + -ing.
From Middle English huntynge, alteration of earlier Middle English huntinde, huntende, huntand, present participle of hunten (“to hunt”), equivalent to hunt + -ing.