Library / English Dictionary

INVESTIGATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Conduct an inquiry or investigation of

Example:

inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady

Synonyms:

enquire; inquire; investigate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "investigate" is one way to...):

examine; probe (question or examine thoroughly and closely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "investigate"):

spy (secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They investigate whether there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)

investigation (an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities)

investigative (designed to find information or ascertain facts)

investigator (a police officer who investigates crimes)

investigatory (designed to find information or ascertain facts)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Investigate scientifically

Example:

Let's investigate the syntax of Chinese

Synonyms:

investigate; look into

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "investigate" is one way to...):

analyse; analyze; canvass; examine; study (consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "investigate"):

explore; research; search (inquire into)

explore (travel to or penetrate into)

examine; probe (question or examine thoroughly and closely)

research (attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner)

experiment (to conduct a test or investigation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

The customs agents investigate the bags for drugs

Derivation:

investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)

investigator (a scientist who devotes himself to doing research)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Current approaches being investigated include the inhibition of angiogenesis stimulants (e.g., VEGF), or their receptors, blockade of endothelial cell activation, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, and inhibition of tumor vasculature.

(Angiogenesis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

A study that investigates the process by which a substance induces its effects.

(Other Toxicity Studies: Mechanistic Studies, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

It is being investigated for use with anticancer drugs to prevent or overcome drug resistance and improve response to chemotherapy.

(Nimodipine, NCI Dictionary)

The drug class of the therapy being investigated in the study or trial.

(Pharmacological Class of Investigational Therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

A physician, scientist, or healthcare provider that investigates the mechanisms underlying the effects of drugs and chemicals on biological or living systems.

(Pharmacologist, NCI Thesaurus)

One thing comes back to my memory which may have a bearing upon the business that you two gentlemen are investigating.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

While my companion contemplated with a serious and satisfied spirit the magnificent appearances of things, I delighted in investigating their causes.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

In addition, this agent is used to investigate the role of intracellular calcium in cellular processes.

(Ionomycin, NCI Thesaurus)

The range of possible values for any measurable characteristic, physical or mental, of a human being, analyzed, examined, investigated, experimented upon, or treated in the course of particular study.

(Intra Subject Variability, NCI Thesaurus)

A butyrophenone that has been investigated for antineoplastic activity.

(Dihydrolenperone, NCI Thesaurus)