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Investigate vs Delve - What's the difference?

investigate | delve | Synonyms |

Delve is a synonym of investigate.



In intransitive terms the difference between investigate and delve

is that investigate is to conduct an inquiry or examination while delve is to dig the ground, especially with a shovel.

As verbs the difference between investigate and delve

is that investigate is to inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information while delve is to dig the ground, especially with a shovel.

As a noun delve is

a pit or den.

investigate

English

Verb

(investigat)
  • To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
  • to investigate the causes of natural phenomena
  • To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret.
  • to investigate an unsolved murder
  • To conduct an inquiry or examination.
  • * 1903 , , "The Shadow and the Flash,"
  • "Why don't you investigate'?" he demanded. And ' investigate I did.

    Synonyms

    *

    delve

    English

    Verb

  • To dig the ground, especially with a shovel.
  • * 1381 , John Ball
  • When Adam dalf and Eve span, / Who was then a gentleman?
  • * Dryden
  • Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.
  • *
  • I got a spade from the tool-house, and began to delve with all my might - it scraped the coffin; I fell to work with my hands; the wood commenced cracking about the screws; I was on the point of attaining my object, when it seemed that I heard a sigh from some one above, close at the edge of the grave, and bending down.
  • (ambitransitive) To search thoroughly and carefully for information, research, dig into, penetrate, fathom, trace out
  • * 1609-11 , Shakespeare, Cymbeline, King of Britain
  • I cannot delve him to the root.
  • * 1943 , Emile C. Tepperman, Calling Justice, Inc.!
  • She was intensely eager to delve into the mystery of Mr. Joplin and his brief case.
  • (ambitransitive) To dig, to excavate.
  • * ca. 1260 , Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend
  • And then they made an oratory behind the altar, and would have dolven for to have laid the body in that oratory ...
  • * 1891 , , The White Company , chapter IV
  • Let him take off his plates and delve' himself, if ' delving must be done.

    Synonyms

    * (to dig the ground) dig * (to search thoroughly) investigate, research

    Derived terms

    * delver * indelve

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pit or den.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.iii:
  • the wise Merlin whylome wont (they say) / To make his wonne, low vnderneath the ground, / In a deepe delue , farre from the vew of day [...].

    Anagrams

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