investigate
verbcommon in dialogue
- United States/[ɪnˈvɛs.tɪ.ɡeɪ̯t]/
- United States/[ɪnˈvɛs.tə.ɡeɪ̯ʔ]/
- //ɪnˈvɛs.tə.ɡeɪt//
To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
verb
- 1
To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
to investigate the causes of natural phenomena
He was asked to investigate a robbery.
We investigated the presence of CNM in ornithophagous ticks from migrating birds.
The current study investigates autoantibodies against steroid synthesis enzymes in dogs with spontaneous hypoadrenocorticism.
- 2
To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret.
to investigate an unsolved murder
- 3
To conduct an inquiry or examination.
"Why don't you investigate?" he demanded. And investigate I did.
Etymology
Recorded since circa 1510, a back-formation from investigation on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), from Latin investīgātiō (“a searching into”), from investīgātus, the perfect passive participle of investīgō, equivalent to in- + vestigate. Displaced native Old English undersēċan (literally “to search under or between”).
Forms
- past tense
- investigated
- past participle
- investigated
- present participle
- investigating
- third person singular
- investigates
investigate · To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
investigation · The act of investigating; the process of inquiring into or…investigative · Of or pertaining to investigation or an investigation.investigator · One who investigates.