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Investigate vs Inspect - What's the difference?

investigate | inspect |

As verbs the difference between investigate and inspect

is that investigate is to inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information while inspect is to examine critically or carefully; especially, to search out problems or determine condition; to scrutinize.

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

    *

    Related terms

    (Terms related to "investigate") * investigability * investigable * investigation * investigational * investigative * investigator * investigatory

    External links

    * * * ----

    inspect

    English

    Alternative forms

    * enspect

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To examine critically or carefully; especially, to search out problems or determine condition; to scrutinize.
  • To view and examine officially.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=6 citation , passage=‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”. […]’.}}

    Derived terms

    * inspector * inspection

    Anagrams

    * *