Also means
quest
Usage Note
Cerca appears almost exclusively in the fixed phrase in cerca di, meaning 'in search of' or 'looking for': è in cerca di lavoro means 'he is looking for work'. As a standalone noun it is less common than ricerca (research/search). Do not confuse it with the verb cercare (to look for) — they share a root but the noun is stylistically restricted.
Examples
"È in cerca di un nuovo appartamento."
Natural Translation
She is in search of a new apartment.

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