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INQUIRY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A systematic investigation of a matter of public interest
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("inquiry" is a kind of...):
investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inquiry"):
means test (an inquiry into the financial position of someone applying for financial aid)
inquest (an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death)
Derivation:
inquire (conduct an inquiry or investigation of)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A search for knowledge
Example:
their pottery deserves more research than it has received
Synonyms:
enquiry; inquiry; research
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("inquiry" is a kind of...):
problem solving (the thought processes involved in solving a problem)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inquiry"):
nature study (the study of animals and plants in the natural world (usually at an elementary level))
experiment; experimentation (the testing of an idea)
empirical research (an empirical search for knowledge)
investigation; probe (an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities)
canvass; opinion poll; poll; public opinion poll (an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people)
heraldry (the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies)
Sense 3
Meaning:
An instance of questioning
Example:
we made inquiries of all those who were present
Synonyms:
enquiry; inquiry; interrogation; query; question
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("inquiry" is a kind of...):
inquiring; questioning (a request for information)
Derivation:
inquire (address a question to and expect an answer from)
Context examples:
If my expedition had no other results it would still have been noteworthy, but a curious incident occurred to me while there which opened up an entirely fresh line of inquiry.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He looked from one to the other of us, and under our gaze of inquiry he became conscious that some apology was needed for this unceremonious entry.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"Nothing can do it any good," she had answered his inquiries.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
He multiplied his questions, and sifted me thoroughly upon every part of this head, proposing numberless inquiries and objections, which I think it not prudent or convenient to repeat.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
Well, in investigating this minor affair we must not lose sight of our main inquiry.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The result of an examination or inquiry.
(Investigation Finding, NCI Thesaurus)
That servant, I found upon inquiry, was so ill that she had gone to her bed.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
And now, sir, I must leave you, for I have had the misfortune to-day to lose the best valet in England, and I must make inquiry for him.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
No inquiry was made to gather this information.
(Not Asked, NCI Thesaurus)
The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
