investigate

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in·ves·ti·gate

(ĭn-vĕs′tĭ-gāt′)

v. in·ves·ti·gat·ed, in·ves·ti·gat·ing, in·ves·ti·gates

v.tr.

To observe or inquire into in detail; examine systematically: investigate a crime; investigate ways to use less energy; investigate whether the virus is contagious.

v.intr.

To make a detailed inquiry or systematic examination.

[Latin investīgāre, investīgāt- : in-, in; see in-² + vestīgāre, to track (from vestīgium, footprint).]

in·ves′ti·ga·ble (-gə-bəl) adj.

in·ves′ti·ga·to′ry (-gə-tôr′ē) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

investigate

(ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡeɪt)

to inquire into (a situation or problem, esp a crime or death) thoroughly; examine systematically, esp in order to discover the truth

[C16: from Latin investīgāre to search after, from in-² + vestīgium track; see vestige]

inˈvestigable adj

inˈvestigative, inˈvestigatory adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•ves•ti•gate

(ɪnˈvɛs tɪˌgeɪt)

v. -gat•ed, -gat•ing. v.t.

1. to search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail.

2. to examine the particulars of so as to learn about something hidden, unique, or complex, esp. in an attempt to find a motive, cause, or culprit: to investigate a murder.

v.i.

3. to make inquiry, examination, or investigation.

[1500–10; < Latin investīgātus, past participle of investīgāre to follow a trail, search out. See in-², vestige]

in•ves′ti•ga•ble, adj.

in•ves′ti•ga`tive, in•ves′ti•ga•to`ry (-gəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i) adj.

investigate

Past participle: investigated
Gerund: investigating

Imperative
investigate
investigate

Present
I investigate
you investigate
he/she/it investigates
we investigate
you investigate
they investigate

Preterite
I investigated
you investigated
he/she/it investigated
we investigated
you investigated
they investigated

Present Continuous
I am investigating
you are investigating
he/she/it is investigating
we are investigating
you are investigating
they are investigating

Present Perfect
I have investigated
you have investigated
he/she/it has investigated
we have investigated
you have investigated
they have investigated

Past Continuous
I was investigating
you were investigating
he/she/it was investigating
we were investigating
you were investigating
they were investigating

Past Perfect
I had investigated
you had investigated
he/she/it had investigated
we had investigated
you had investigated
they had investigated

Future
I will investigate
you will investigate
he/she/it will investigate
we will investigate
you will investigate
they will investigate

Future Perfect
I will have investigated
you will have investigated
he/she/it will have investigated
we will have investigated
you will have investigated
they will have investigated

Future Continuous
I will be investigating
you will be investigating
he/she/it will be investigating
we will be investigating
you will be investigating
they will be investigating

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been investigating
you have been investigating
he/she/it has been investigating
we have been investigating
you have been investigating
they have been investigating

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been investigating
you will have been investigating
he/she/it will have been investigating
we will have been investigating
you will have been investigating
they will have been investigating

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been investigating
you had been investigating
he/she/it had been investigating
we had been investigating
you had been investigating
they had been investigating

Conditional
I would investigate
you would investigate
he/she/it would investigate
we would investigate
you would investigate
they would investigate

Past Conditional
I would have investigated
you would have investigated
he/she/it would have investigated
we would have investigated
you would have investigated
they would have investigated

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Verb	1.	investigate - investigate scientifically; "Let's investigate the syntax of Chinese" look into analyse, analyze, examine, study, canvass, canvas - consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning; "analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare"; "analyze the evidence in a criminal trial"; "analyze your real motives" explore, research, search - inquire into; "the students had to research the history of the Second World War for their history project"; "He searched for information on his relatives on the web"; "Scientists are exploring the nature of consciousness" explore - travel to or penetrate into; "explore unknown territory in biology" probe, examine - question or examine thoroughly and closely research - attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner; "The student researched the history of that word" experiment - to conduct a test or investigation; "We are experimenting with the new drug in order to fight this disease"
	2.	investigate - conduct an inquiry or investigation of; "The district attorney's office investigated reports of possible irregularities"; "inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady" enquire, inquire spy - secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage; "spy for the Russians" probe, examine - question or examine thoroughly and closely

investigate

verb examine, study, research, consider, go into, explore, search for, analyse, look into, inspect, look over, sift, probe into, work over, scrutinize, inquire into, make inquiries about, enquire into Gas officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

investigate

verb

1. To study closely or systematically:

analyze, examine, inspect.

2. To go into or through for the purpose of making discoveries or acquiring information:

delve, dig, explore, inquire, look into, probe, reconnoiter, scout.

Translations

يُحَقِّق

prozkoumatvyšetřovat

efterforskeundersøge

untersuchen eruieren recherchieren

ερευνώ

estudiar examinar investigar

enquêter étudier explorer interroger

rannsaka, kanna

indagare indagine investigare investigatore

tyrėjas

izmeklētizpētītpētīt

bekijken bestuderen onderzoeken

preiskovati

investigate

[ɪnˈvestɪgeɪt]

A. VT

1. (= inquire into) [+ crime, case] → investigar; [+ person] → hacer indagaciones sobre; [+ claim, possibility] → examinar, estudiar; [+ complaint] → estudiar
police are investigating two possibilities → la policía está investigando dos posibles pistas

2. (= inspect) → examinar

3. (= research) → investigar, llevar a cabo una investigación sobre

B. VI → investigar
I heard a noise downstairs, I'd better go and investigate → he oído un ruido abajo, mejor que vaya a investigar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

investigate

[ɪnˈvɛstɪgeɪt] vt

[+ event, situation, claim] → enquêter sur
They are investigating how the accident happened → Ils enquêtent sur les circonstances de l'accident.

[+ crime] → enquêter sur

[+ person] → enquêter sur
to be investigated by sb → être sous le coup d'une enquête de qn
The two officers were being investigated by the director of public prosecutions → Les deux officiers étaient sous le coup d'une enquête du procureur de la République.

investigate

vt → untersuchen; (doing scientific research also) → erforschen; sb’s political beliefs, an insurance claim, business affairs → überprüfen; complaint → nachgehen (+dat); motive, reason, cause → erforschen; crime → untersuchen; to investigate a case → in einem Fall ermitteln or Ermittlungen anstellen

vi → nachforschen; (police) → ermitteln, Ermittlungen anstellen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

investigate

[ɪnˈvɛstɪˌgeɪt] vt (crime, motive) → indagare su, investigare su; (possibilities) → studiare, esaminare

investigate

(inˈvestigeit) verb

to examine or inquire into carefully. The police are investigating the mystery.

inˌvestiˈgation noun

inˈvestigator noun

a person, eg a detective, who investigates.

References in classic literature ?

I have no need to observe that I do not wilfully or negligently mislead my readers and that before I wrote that description I took pains to investigate the subject.

View in context

However, now that the glove had been thrown down to him, he had boldly picked it up and demanded the appointment of a special commission to investigate and verify the working of the Board of Irrigation of the lands in the Zaraisky province.

View in context

"Well, twenty-four, if you like, my noble captain," said Ardan; "twenty-four minutes in which to investigate "

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I must investigate this when I have the time, and when I find myself in the humor." Having so far settled the question to his own entire satisfaction, he looked up at me again.

View in context

The Baron, 'well known as an enthusiastic student of chemistry,' had heard of certain recent discoveries in connection with that science in the United States, and was anxious to investigate them personally.

View in context

At one time, about five years after the disappearance, these stories of the supernatural became so rife, or through some attesting circumstances seemed so important, that some of Marion's most serious citizens deemed it well to investigate, and to that end arranged for a night session on the premises.

View in context

He at last decided that it would do no harm to investigate beyond the room, that he might have some idea as how best to plan his escape after dark.

View in context

The more attentively I consider and investigate the reasons which appear to have given birth to this opinion, the more I become convinced that they are cogent and conclusive.

View in context

I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone.

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The place seemed silent and deserted, so he took the opportunity of concealing himself near the spot whence he had seen Oolanga trying to investigate whatever was concealed behind the iron door.

View in context

They had only come to investigate the contents of the bonbon box.

View in context

And thirdly, that men accustomed to investigate the sources of public prosperity upon a large scale, must be too well convinced of the utility of commerce, to be inclined to inflict upon it so deep a wound as would result from the entire exclusion of those who would best understand its interest from a share in the management of them.