investigate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to conduct an inquiry or investigation of

   The district attorney's office investigated reports of possible irregularities.

2. 2
   verb

   To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.

   to investigate the causes of natural phenomena

3. 3
   verb

   To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret.

   to investigate an unsolved murder

4. 4
   verb

   To conduct an inquiry or examination.

   "Why don't you investigate?" he demanded. And investigate I did.

Etymology

Recorded since circa 1510, a back-formation from investigation on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), from Latin investīgātiō (“a searching into”), from investīgātus, the perfect passive participle of investīgō, equivalent to in- + vestigate. Displaced native Old English undersēċan (literally “to search under or between”).