procurar

From Old Portuguese procurar, from Late Latin prōcūrāre, present active infinitive of prōcūrō (“I manage, administer”), from Latin prō + cūrō (“I take care; I cure; I manage”). Cognate of English procure.

• (Paulista) IPA^(key): /ˌpɾu.ku.ˈɾa(ɹ)/, /ˌpɾo.ku.ˈɾa(ɹ)/
• (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌpɾo.ku.ˈɾa(ɻ)/
• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɾɔ.ku.ˈɾaɾ/
• Hyphenation: pro‧cu‧rar

procurar (first-person singular present indicative procuro, past participle procurado)

1. to search; to seek; to look for
   • 2005, Matthew D. Bauer, O Poder de Cura da Acupressura e da Acupuntura, Editora Pensamento, →ISBN, page 142:

     Se você sentir que a acupuntura incomoda, discuta o assunto com o seu acupunturista. Se não ficar satisfeito com o que ele lhe disser, procure outro acupunturista que use agulhas mais finas.

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

   Synonym: buscar

2. to reach out (attempt to initiate communication)
3. (auxiliary with a verb in the impersonal infinitive) to try; to attempt

   Sempre procuro evitar comida apimentada. ― I always try to avoid spicy food.

   Synonym: tentar

4. to work as a procurator (attorney or agent)

This is a false friend of English procure. The Portuguese word means primarily ‘to look for’, while the English word means primarily ‘to obtain’ and can be translated into Portuguese with obter or conseguir.

From Late Latin prōcūrāre, present active infinitive of prōcūrō (“I manage, administer”), from Latin prō + cūrō. Cognate of English procure.

procurar (first-person singular present procuro, first-person singular preterite procuré, past participle procurado)

1. to obtain, acquire
2. (catenative) to try, attempt
   1. to endeavor
   2. to make sure, assure
3. to work as a procurator (attorney or agent)