To consult means to seek information, advice, or guidance from someone with special knowledge or expertise. When you consult a doctor about a persistent cough, you're asking them to use their medical training to help figure out what's wrong. When your parents consult a map before a road trip, they're checking it for information about which route to take.

People consult experts because they need help with something important or complex. A business owner might consult a lawyer before signing a contract. A student might consult a thesaurus to find just the right word for an essay. The key idea is that you're turning to a source, whether a person or a reference, that knows more about the subject than you do.

The word can also describe the work certain professionals do. A consultant is someone whose job is giving expert advice. Companies hire consultants to solve problems or improve how they operate. A reading consultant might visit schools to help teachers develop better literacy programs.

When doctors consult with each other about a difficult case, they're discussing it together to combine their knowledge. This shows how consulting often involves conversation and careful thought, not just quick answers.