investigation

/ɪnˈvɛstəˌgeɪʃən/

/ɪnvɛstɪˈgeɪʃən/

Other forms: investigations

If something has gone missing, conduct an investigation to find it. To do this, seek out details associated with its disappearance, asking questions and gathering evidence in order to find out what happened to it.

If you watch a lot of detective shows, it won’t surprise you to learn that the noun investigation traces back to the Latin words in-, meaning “into,” and vestigium, meaning “footprint, track.” An investigation may not always involve people looking for footprints at a crime scene, but that methodical gathering of details and other evidence associated with a crime or wrongdoing is at the heart of any investigation.

Definitions of investigation

1. noun

   an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
   synonyms: probe

   types:

   fishing expedition

   an investigation undertaken in the hope (but not the stated purpose) of discovering information

   type of:

   enquiry, inquiry, research

   a search for knowledge
2. noun

   the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
   synonyms: investigating

   types:

   analysis

   an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole

   count, counting, enumeration, numeration, reckoning, tally

   the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order

   police investigation, police work

   the investigation of criminal activities

   empiricism

   the application of empirical methods in any art or science

   examination, scrutiny

   the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

   examination, testing

   the act of giving students or candidates a test (as by questions) to determine what they know or have learned

   enquiry, inquiry

   a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest

   research

   systematic investigation to establish facts

   search

   an investigation seeking answers

   tabulation

   the act of putting into tabular form

   tap, wiretap

   the act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information

   audit

   a methodical examination or review of a condition or situation

   PM, autopsy, necropsy, post-mortem, post-mortem examination, postmortem, postmortem examination

   an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease

   checkup, exam, examination, health check, medical, medical checkup, medical exam, medical examination

   a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person

   comparing, comparison

   the act of examining resemblances

   fine-tooth comb, fine-toothed comb

   a method of examining in minute detail

   follow-up, followup, reexamination, review

   a subsequent examination of a patient for the purpose of monitoring earlier treatment

   going-over

   a careful and thorough inspection

   look-over, once-over

   a swift cursory examination or inspection

   ophthalmoscopy

   examination of the interior of an eye using an ophthalmoscope

   palpation, tactual exploration

   a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body parts when the examiner is a health professional)

   detecting, detection, detective work, sleuthing

   a police investigation to determine the perpetrator

   forensics

   scientific tests or techniques used in the investigation of crimes

   roundup

   the systematic gathering up of suspects by the police

   11-plus, eleven-plus

   (formerly in Britain) an examination taken by 11 and 12 year old students to select suitable candidates for grammar school

   operations research

   research designed to determine most efficient way to do something

   means test

   an inquiry into the financial position of someone applying for financial aid

   inquest

   an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death

   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

   endoscopy

   visual examination of the interior of a hollow body organ by use of an endoscope

   gonioscopy

   an examination of the front part of the eye to check the angle where the iris meets the cornea; it is used to distinguish between open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma

   keratoscopy

   examination of the cornea with a keratoscope to detect irregularities in its anterior surface

   rhinoscopy

   examination of the nasal passages (either through the anterior nares or with a rhinoscope through the nasopharynx)

   scan

   the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region

   search

   boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas

   study, survey

   a detailed critical inspection

   testing

   an examination of the characteristics of something

   motion study, time and motion study, time study, time-and-motion study, time-motion study, work study

   an analysis of a specific job in an effort to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort

   anatomy

   a detailed analysis

   case study

   a detailed analysis of a person or group from a social or psychological or medical point of view

   chemical analysis, qualitative analysis

   the act of decomposing a substance into its constituent elements

   cost analysis

   breaking down the costs of some operation and reporting on each factor separately

   dissection

   detailed critical analysis or examination one part at a time (as of a literary work)

   fundamental analysis, fundamentals analysis

   (stock exchange) the use of fundamentals as an investment strategy

   technical analysis, technical analysis of stock trends

   (stock exchange) analysis of past price changes in the hope of forecasting future price changes

   surveillance

   close observation of a person or group (usually by the police)

   blood count

   the act of estimating the number of red and white corpuscles in a blood sample

   census, nose count, nosecount

   a periodic count of the population

   countdown

   counting backward from an arbitrary number to indicate the time remaining before some event (such as launching a space vehicle)

   miscount

   an inaccurate count

   poll

   the counting of votes (as in an election)

   recount

   an additional (usually a second) count; especially of the votes in a close election

   sperm count

   the act of estimating the number of spermatozoa in an ejaculate

   inspection, review

   a formal or official examination

   bank examination

   an examination of the affairs and records of a bank by a state or federal bank examiner

   type of:

   work

   activity directed toward making or doing something