inquire
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++in·quire, enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ ●○○ verb [intransitive, transitive] formal 1 ASK A QUESTIONto ask someone for information 询问,打听 ‘Why are you doing that?’ the boy inquired. “你为什么这么做?”男孩问道。inquire about I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in ‘The Times’. 贵方在《泰晤士报》刊登广告,特此致函问询。inquire whether/why/how etc The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window. 侍者问我们是否想靠窗坐。inquire something of somebody ‘Where’s the station?’ she inquired of a passer-by. “车站在哪儿?” 她问一名过路人。 Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions). 托比本想问更多的问题。► see thesaurus at ask2 inquire after somebody/something phrasal verb formal ASK A QUESTIONto ask about someone’s health, what they are doing etc 问候,问好 He called me aside to inquire after my daughter. 他把我叫到一旁,打听我女儿的情况。3 inquire into something phrasal verb formal ASK A QUESTIONto ask questions in order to get more information about something 查问,查究,调查 The investigation will inquire into the company’s financial dealings. 此次调查将会涉及公司的财务往来。 —inquirer noun [countable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
inquire• "Did you ever raise money illegally?" the interviewer inquired.• Several people have phoned the personnel department to inquire about the position.• We inquired at all the hotels in town, but we couldn't find Carol anywhere.• We rang the hospital again to inquire how the old man was.inquire further• Arthur inquired further and relayed his findings.• Toby would have liked to inquire further, but had feared a snub at his age and inexperience.From Longman Business Dictionaryinquirein‧quire /ɪnˈkwaɪə-ˈkwaɪr/ (also enquire) verb [intransitive]1to ask someone for informationinquire aboutHundreds of prospective buyers have inquired about the auction.inquire whether/ when/why etcEmployers may not inquire whether an applicant has a disability. —inquirer noun [countable]Make sure you get the inquirer’s name and address.2inquire within used on notices, especially in shop windows, to mean that you can find out more about something insideVacancies — inquire within.→ See Verb tableOrigin inquire (1200-1300) Old French enquerre, from Latin inquirere, from quaerere “to look for”in·quire verbChineseSyllable
to someone for Business information ask Corpus
inquire
in‧quire
, enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ verb [intransitive and transitive] formal
‘Why are you doing that?’ the boy inquired.
inquire about
I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in ‘The Times’.
inquire whether/why/how etc
The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window.
inquire something of somebody
‘Where’s the station?’ she inquired of a passer-by.
Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions).
—inquirer noun [countable]
■ ask a question
▪ask to speak or write to someone to get an answer: Did you ask about the price? | They asked me a lot of questions.
▪inquire/enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ formal to ask someone for information about something: I’m writing to inquire about the job that was advertised in yesterday’s ‘Times’.
▪demand especially written to ask a question in a firm or angry way: ‘Why didn’t you call me?’, she demanded.
▪interview to ask someone questions, to find out if they are suitable for a job, or as part of a television or radio interview: When they interviewed me for the job, they didn’t mention the salary. | David Letterman has interviewed all the stars.
▪poll to officially ask a lot of people in order to find out their opinion on something: Over 1,000 people were polled for the report. | 64% of the people we polled said that they approved of the way the government had handled the crisis.
inquire after somebody/something phrasal verb
to ask about someone’s health, what they are doing etc:
He called me aside to inquire after my daughter.
inquire into something phrasal verb
to ask questions in order to get more information about something:
The investigation will inquire into the company’s financial dealings.
in‧quire
, enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ verb [intransitive and transitive] formal Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: enquerre, from Latin inquirere, from quaerere 'to look for'
to ask someone for information:Language: Old French
Origin: enquerre, from Latin inquirere, from quaerere 'to look for'
inquire about
inquire whether/why/how etc
inquire something of somebody
—inquirer noun [countable]
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inquire after somebody/something phrasal verb
to ask about someone’s health, what they are doing etc:
inquire into something phrasal verb
to ask questions in order to get more information about something: