examine

Formsexamines, examining, examined

Pluralexamines

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To observe or inspect something carefully or critically.

   Scientists examine the samples under powerful microscopes.

   She examined the contract line by line before signing it.

   Similarinspect, scrutinize, study, analyze, check

   Note

   Inspection with a purpose behind it. The word reached English through Middle English examinen and Old French examiner, from Latin exāmināre, and every sense on this page shares that origin. Scientific prose turns the past participle into a fixed label. Rudolf Schuster's The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America (1992) writes of "the material examined," where the verb names a method rather than a single act of looking.

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To check the health or condition of someone or something.

   Doctors examine newborns shortly after birth.

   The mechanic examined the engine for signs of wear.

   Similarcheck, inspect, assess

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To test someone's knowledge, skills, or qualifications through a formal examination.

   External assessors examine final-year students in both oral and written tests.

   She was examined by a panel before earning her teaching license.

   Similartest, assess, evaluate

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To question someone formally and in detail.

   Attorneys examine witnesses to draw out the facts of a case.

   The prosecutor examined the defendant about his whereabouts that night.

   Similarquestion, interrogate

   Note

   The courtroom use: counsel questions a witness under oath to draw out testimony in a legal proceeding. The object is always a person, and the verb sits naturally in the passive, as in "the witness was examined under oath." Here the person examined is made to speak. Under the "inspect carefully" meaning, the thing examined is only looked at.

5. 5
   nouncolloquialcountable

   An act of looking over or inspecting something.

   A close examine of the contract revealed several small errors.

   She gave the antique a thorough examine before buying it.

   Similarinspection, look, check

   Note

   A noun made straight from the verb, at home in casual speech and relaxed narrative. J. David Simons's The Liberation of Celia Kahn (2014) has a character take "a quick examine of his nails." It follows the pattern of have a quick look: a light verb, an adjective, then of. In formal writing, examination is the safer choice.

   He had a quick examine of the tires before setting off.

   Give the hinge a proper examine and tell me if it's bent.

Showing meanings only. Show all 5