aufspüren
track down
Etwas oder jemanden finden, indem man lange und genau danach sucht.
The German word "aufspüren" is a verb made up of two parts:
- auf (a prefix meaning "up" or indicating completeness)
- spüren (meaning "to sense" or "to detect")
Meaning:
"aufspüren" means "to track down," "to detect," or "to discover" something or someone, often through careful search or investigation.
Similar words:
- auffinden (to find, to locate)
- entdecken (to discover)
- finden (to find)
Difference:
- aufspüren specifically implies a deliberate or persistent tracking process, often used for tracking down people, animals, or clues.
- auffinden and entdecken emphasize the act of finding or discovering, sometimes unexpectedly.
- finden is more general and neutral, meaning simply "to find."
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Examples
Die Polizei konnte den Verdächtigen schnell aufspüren.verb
The police were able to quickly track down the suspect.
Spürhunde können Vermisste im Wald aufspüren.verb
Sniffer dogs can track down missing persons in the forest.
Polizisten versuchen, versteckte Drogen aufzuspüren.verb
Police officers try to track down hidden drugs.
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