Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
investigate — in‧ves‧ti‧gate [ɪnˈvestgeɪt] verb [intransitive, transitive] to try to discover the truth about a crime, accident etc: • The fraud office is investigating allegations of insider trading by a former employee of the firm. investigation noun… … Financial and business terms
investigate — in·ves·ti·gate /in ves tə ˌgāt/ vb gat·ed, gat·ing vt: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry; specif: to make (a criminal suspect) the subject of inquiry and study for the purpose of establishing probable cause vi: to… … Law dictionary
Investigate — In*ves ti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Investigated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Investigating}.] [L. investigatus, p. p. of investigare to investigate; pref. in in + vestigare to track, trace. See {Vestige}.] To follow up step by step by patient inquiry or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Investigate — In*ves ti*gate, v. i. To pursue a course of investigation and study; to make investigation. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
investigate — (v.) c.1500, back formation from investigation, or else from L. investigatus, pp. of investigare to trace out, search after (see INVESTIGATION (Cf. investigation)). Related: Investigated; investigating … Etymology dictionary
investigate — [v] check into thoroughly be all ears*, bug, case*, check out, check over, check up, consider, delve, dig, examine, explore, eyeball*, feel out, frisk, give the once over*, go into, inquire, inquisite, inspect, interrogate, listen in, look into,… … New thesaurus
investigate — ► VERB 1) carry out a systematic or formal inquiry into (an incident or allegation) so as to establish the truth. 2) carry out research into (a subject). 3) make a search or systematic inquiry. DERIVATIVES investigable adjective investigation… … English terms dictionary
investigate — [in ves′tə gāt΄] vt. investigated, investigating [< L investigatus, pp. of investigare, to trace out < in , in + vestigare, to track < vestigium, a track] to search into so as to learn the facts; inquire into systematically vi. to make… … English World dictionary
investigate — verb ADVERB ▪ carefully, closely, in detail ▪ extensively ▪ adequately, fully, properly, thoroughly … Collocations dictionary
investigate */*/*/ — UK [ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt] / US [ɪnˈvestɪˌɡeɪt] verb Word forms investigate : present tense I/you/we/they investigate he/she/it investigates present participle investigating past tense investigated past participle investigated a) [intransitive/transitive] … English dictionary
investigate — in|ves|ti|gate [ ın vestı,geıt ] verb *** intransitive or transitive to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it: We sent a reporter to investigate the rumor. All complaints from our customers are… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
