investigation

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
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    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
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    examples:
    Human Genome Project
    an international study of the entire human genetic material
    types:
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    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, 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