Library / English Dictionary

RESEARCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Systematic investigation to establish facts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("research" is a kind of...):

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

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "research"):

operations research (research designed to determine most efficient way to do something)

field work (an investigation carried out in the field rather than in a laboratory or headquarters)

market research; marketing research (research that gathers and analyzes information about the moving of good or services from producer to consumer)

microscopy (research with the use of microscopes)

probe (an investigation conducted using a flexible surgical instrument to explore an injury or a body cavity)

research project; scientific research (research into questions posed by scientific theories and hypotheses)

Derivation:

research (inquire into)

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 ("research" is a kind of...):

problem solving (the thought processes involved in solving a problem)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "research"):

heraldry (the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies)

canvass; opinion poll; poll; public opinion poll (an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people)

investigation; probe (an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities)

empirical research (an empirical search for knowledge)

experiment; experimentation (the testing of an idea)

nature study (the study of animals and plants in the natural world (usually at an elementary level))

Derivation:

research (inquire into)

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

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inquire into

Example:

Scientists are exploring the nature of consciousness

Synonyms:

explore; research; search

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

investigate; look into (investigate scientifically)

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

prospect (explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals)

google (search the internet (for information) using the Google search engine)

mapquest (search for a location and directions by means of the MapQuest program)

re-explore (explore anew)

beat about; cast about; cast around (search anxiously)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

research (systematic investigation to establish facts)

research (a search for knowledge)

researcher (a scientist who devotes himself to doing research)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner

Example:

The student researched the history of that word

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

investigate; look into (investigate scientifically)

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

consult; look up; refer (seek information from)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue research the movie

Derivation:

research (a search for knowledge)

researcher (a scientist who devotes himself to doing research)

Credits

 Context examples: 

As I learned from the researches of my friend Arminus of Buda-Pesth, he was in life a most wonderful man.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Have you no desire, in view of later research, to modify this statement?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With your permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the inner apartment.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Hubble research team, however, used a technique in which they did not need to look for the gravitational influence of stars as tracers of dark matter.

(Cosmic Magnifying Glasses Find Dark Matter in Small Clumps, NASA)

AIDS related research with a minimum of 20% (or $100,000) research efforts related to foreign countries.

(AIDS, International, NCI Thesaurus)

Past research suggests that omega-3s may help protect against heart disease.

(Omega-3s linked with lower risk of fatal heart attacks, NIH)

A research project that is in an active grant funding cycle.

(Active Funded Research Project, NCI Thesaurus)

Insomnia is associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new research.

(Insomnia: Heart Attack, Stroke Risk, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A research team of King’s College London followed more than 600 infants beginning at 4 to 11 months of age.

(Peanut Consumption in Infancy Lowers Peanut Allergy, NIH)

Person employed by the sponsor or clinical research organization, who is responsible for determining that a clinical study is being conducted in accordance with the protocol.

(Medical Monitor, NCI Thesaurus)