ransack

[ ran-sak ]
/ ˈræn sæk /

verb (used with object)

to search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town.

Origin of ransack

1200–50; Middle English ransaken < Old Norse rannsaka to search, examine (for evidence of crime), equivalent to rann house + saka search (variant of soekja to seek)

OTHER WORDS FROM ransack

ran·sack·er, noun un·ran·sacked, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for ransack

British Dictionary definitions for ransack

ransack
/ (ˈrænsæk) /

verb (tr)

to search through every part of (a house, box, etc); examine thoroughly
to plunder; pillage

Derived forms of ransack

ransacker, noun

Word Origin for ransack

C13: from Old Norse rann house + saka to search, seek