examines

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular present of examine.

   The inspector examines every weld along the pipeline before signing off.

   A good editor examines each sentence for clarity and accuracy.

   Note

   Here the -s marks agreement with a singular subject in the present: she examines, the inspector examines, it examines. Every other person takes plain examine. The one form carries all of the verb's meanings, from inspecting a weld to checking a patient's health, testing a candidate or questioning a witness. Its spelling matches the plural noun, so the subject before it shows which is meant.

2. 2
   nouncolloquial

   Plural of examine. Rare and informal.

   Note

   One of two words spelled alike: a plural noun built on examine in its informal sense, "an act of examining." It is easy to tell apart from the verb form by position. The noun follows an article or adjective (the examines, lengthy examines), while the verb follows its subject. In careful writing, examinations is the safer plural for a formal test or inquiry.

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