| prior-art search [`prī·ǝr ´ärt ´sǝrch] ENGINEERING 1. A search for prior art which may possibly anticipate an invention which is being considered for patentability. 2. A similar search but for the purpose of determining what the status of existing technology is before going ahead with new research; it is done to avoid unwittingly retracing new steps taken by other workers in the field. |