The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ransack \Ran"sack\ (r[a^]n"s[a^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Ransacked (-s[a^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Ransacking.] [OE.
   ransaken, Icel. rannsaka to explore, examine; rann a house
   (akin to Goth. razn house, AS. r[ae]sn plank, beam) + the
   root of s[ae]kja to seek, akin to E. seek. See Seek, and
   cf. Rest repose.]
   1. To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of;
      as, to ransack a house.
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            To ransack every corner of their . . . hearts.
                                                  --South.
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   2. To plunder; to pillage completely.
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            Their vow is made
            To ransack Troy.                      --Shak.
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   3. To violate; to ravish; to defiour. [Obs.]
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            Rich spoil of ransacked chastity.     --Spenser.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ransack \Ran"sack\, v. i.
   To make a thorough search.
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         To ransack in the tas [heap] of bodies dead. --Chaucer.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ransack \Ran"sack\, n.
   The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked; pillage.
   [R.]
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         Even your father's house
         Shall not be free from ransack.          --J. Webster.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ransack
    v 1: steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people
         looted the stores that were deserted by their owners" [syn:
         plunder, despoil, loot, reave, strip, rifle,
         ransack, pillage, foray]
    2: search thoroughly; "They combed the area for the missing
       child" [syn: comb, ransack]