research - Definition | Dictionary definition of research

Definition of research

Nouns

systematic investigation to establish facts

Examples:: Human Genome Project
an international study of the entire human genetic material

Types:: show 15 types...; hide 15 types...; operations research
research designed to determine most efficient way to do something; 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; market analysis
marketing research that yields information about the marketplace; product research
marketing research that yields information about desired characteristics of the product or service; consumer research
marketing research that yields information about the motives and needs of different classes of consumers; microscopy
research with the use of microscopes; electron microscopy
microscopy with the use of electron microscopes; dark field illumination, dark ground illumination
a form of microscopic examination of living material by scattered light; specimens appear luminous against a dark background; fluorescence microscopy
light microscopy in which the specimen is irradiated at wavelengths that excite fluorochromes; 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; big science
scientific research that requires massive capital investment but is expected to yield very significant results; biological research
scientific research conducted by biologists; experiment, experimentation
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation

Type of:: investigating, investigation
the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically

a search for knowledge

"their pottery deserves more research than it has received"

Synonyms:: enquiry, inquiry

Types:: show 11 types...; hide 11 types...; nature study
the study of animals and plants in the natural world (usually at an elementary level); experiment, experimentation
the testing of an idea; pilot experiment
a preliminary experiment whose outcome can lead to a more extensive experiment; test, trial, trial run, tryout
trying something to find out about it; empirical research
an empirical search for knowledge; investigation, probe
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities; fishing expedition
an investigation undertaken in the hope (but not the stated purpose) of discovering information; canvass, opinion poll, poll, public opinion poll
an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people; exit poll
a poll of voters as they leave the voting place; usually taken by news media in order to predict the outcome of an election; straw poll, straw vote
an unofficial vote taken to determine opinion on some issue; heraldry
the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies

Type of:: problem solving
the thought processes involved in solving a problem

Verbs

attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner

"The student researched the history of that word"

Types:: consult, look up, refer
seek information from

Type of:: investigate, look into
investigate scientifically

inquire into

"the students had to research the history of the Second World War for their history project"

Synonyms:: explore, search

Types:: show 5 types...; hide 5 types...; prospect
explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals; google
search the internet (for information) using the Google search engine; mapquest
search for a location and directions by means of the MapQuest program; re-explore
explore anew; beat about, cast about, cast around
search anxiously