find unexpectedly
"the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb"
"she struck a goldmine"
"The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake"
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
"The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold"
"The actress won't reveal how old she is"
"bring out the truth"
"he broke the news to her"
"unwrap the evidence in the murder case"
"The newspaper uncovered the President's illegal dealings"
To find or learn something for the first time.
"She was thrilled to discover a hidden trail behind the old barn during her hike."
In plain English: To discover means to find something that was hidden or unknown before.
"She discovered a hidden treasure chest behind the old bookshelf."
Usage: Use "discover" when you find something that already exists but was previously unknown to you, such as a new place or fact. Do not use it for creating something entirely new, which requires the verb "invent."
Discover Card, a brand of credit card.
"I decided to apply for a Discover Card because I heard their rewards program offers great benefits for online shopping."
The word "discover" entered English from the Middle English discoveren, which came through Old French and Late Latin. It originally meant to uncover or reveal something that was hidden, eventually replacing the native Old English term onfindan.