《英语惯用法词典》(葛传槼,1962):
2. "a search”后面通常接"for',间或接"of;;例如:"She made a search
for(简或用of) her missing ring.". "the search”后面接"of", "for",或“after";
例如:"He is engaged in the search of(或for,或after) certain rare plants.".
"in search of”一语里用“of";例如:"She went about the garden in search
of her lost ring.”.
LDOCE(updated version):
search
3.in search of something: looking for something:
Mark went in search of water.
4 [singular] an attempt to find an explanation or solution
search for
the search for a cure
针对楼主的问题:
作为短语,则用in search of ,而不用in search for
search作名词,可搭配“of”"for""after",意义无区别。