examine

The verb examine means to study something carefully and in great detail. You can examine a book, a painting, a person’s face and so on. Right now, you are examining the meaning of examine.

Examine means to look at something very closely and usually with the purpose of making a judgment. If you go to see a doctor, the doctor will examine you to see if you are healthy. Examine can also mean “question.” When the police examine a witness, they are questioning that witness. Along these same lines, examine can also be used to mean “test.” You might examine, or test, your friend’s knowledge of biology by asking him repeated questions about that subject.

Definitions of examine
  1. verb
    observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect
    “The customs agent examined the baggage”
    synonyms: see
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    types:
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    search
    subject to a search
    x-ray
    examine by taking x-rays
    candle
    examine eggs for freshness by holding them against a light
    autopsy
    perform an autopsy on a dead body; do a post-mortem
    auscultate
    examine by auscultation
    survey
    look over carefully or inspect
    glance over, rake, run down, scan, skim
    examine hastily
    scan
    examine minutely or intensely
    peruse
    examine or consider with attention and in detail
    scrutinise, scrutinize, size up, take stock
    to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    look, search
    search or seek
    inspect
    look over carefully
    check
    make an examination or investigation
    go over, review, survey
    hold a review (of troops)
    hunt
    search (an area) for prey
    raid
    search for something needed or desired
    frisk
    search as for concealed weapons by running the hands rapidly over the clothing and through the pockets
    strip-search
    search (someone) for weapons or drugs by having the person remove their clothes
    scan
    make a wide, sweeping search of
    go, rifle
    go through in search of something; search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way
    rummage
    search haphazardly
    comb, ransack
    search thoroughly
    glass
    scan (game in the forest) with binoculars
    flick, flip, leaf, riff, riffle, thumb
    look through a book or other written material
    prospect
    search for something desirable
    perambulate
    make an official inspection on foot of (the bounds of a property)
    case
    look over, usually with the intention to rob
    vet
    examine carefully
    overlook
    watch over
    horn in, intrude, nose, poke, pry
    search or inquire in a meddlesome way
    screen, test
    test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
    countercheck
    check a second time
    breathalyse, breathalyze
    test someone's alcohol level in his blood by means of a breathalyzer
    delve
    search for something in a receptacle or container
  2. verb
    consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
    synonyms: analyse, analyze, canvas, canvass, delve, parse, study
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    anatomise, anatomize
    analyze down to the smallest detail
    diagnose, name
    determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis
    diagnose
    subject to a medical analysis
    appraise, survey
    consider in a comprehensive way
    survey
    make a survey of; for statistical purposes
    compare
    examine and note the similarities or differences of
    check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out
    examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
    assay
    analyze (chemical substances)
    reexamine, review
    look at again; examine again
    audit, inspect, scrutinise, scrutinize
    examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification
    screen
    examine methodically
    follow, trace
    follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
    investigate, look into
    investigate scientifically
    sieve, sift
    check and sort carefully
    consider, look at, view
    look at carefully; study mentally
    explore
    examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes
    explore
    examine minutely
    delve, explore, research, search
    inquire into
    explore
    travel to or penetrate into
    analogise, analogize
    make an analogy
    collate
    compare critically; of texts
    bioassay
    subject to a bio-assay
    probe
    question or examine thoroughly and closely
    research
    attempt to find out in a systematic and scientific manner
    contemplate
    look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
    groak
    look or stare at longingly
    canvas, canvass, poll
    get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions
    follow, keep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over
    follow with the eyes or the mind
    experiment
    conduct a test or investigation
  3. verb
    question or examine thoroughly and closely
    synonyms: probe
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    enquire, inquire, investigate
    conduct an inquiry or investigation of
    re-examine
    question after cross-examination by opposing counsel
    hear, try
    examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process
    spy
    secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage
    rehear, retry
    hear or try a court case anew
    type of:
    investigate, look into
    investigate scientifically
  4. verb
    question closely
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    types:
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    quiz, test
    examine someone's knowledge of something
    cross examine, cross question
    question closely, or question a witness that has already been questioned by the opposing side
    catechise, catechize
    examine through questioning and answering
    grill
    examine thoroughly
    type of:
    query, question
    pose a question
  5. verb
    put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
    synonyms: essay, prove, test, try, try out
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    control, verify
    check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard
    float
    circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with
    field-test
    test something under the conditions under which it will actually be used
    type of:
    evaluate, judge, pass judgment
    form a critical opinion of
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