investigate
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++in·ves·ti·gate /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ ●●● W2 AWL verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]INVESTIGATE to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem 查明；调查；侦查〔犯罪、事故或科学问题等的真相〕 The state police are investigating the incident. 州警察正调查此事。 The study investigates the impact of violent TV programming on children. 该研究调查暴力电视节目对儿童的影响。 I heard a noise and went downstairs to investigate. 我听见响声，就下楼去看个究竟。 RegisterIn everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something: 在日常英语中,人们常说look into something,而不说investigate somethingI’ll ask my colleague to look into it. 我会请同事查一下这件事。2 [transitive]SCCINVESTIGATE to try to find out more about someone’s character, actions etc, because you think they may have been involved in a crime 调查〔某人，因认为某人可能卷入了罪案〕 Penney was already being investigated by the police on suspicion of murder. 彭尼因涉嫌谋杀已在接受警方调查。n THESAURUSinvestigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problemPolice are investigating an explosion in the city centre.The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do thisThe manager promised to look into my complaint.Please could you look into the matter for me?explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should doMilitary leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.probe [intransitive, transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questionsThe press began probing into the actor’s private life.We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change. delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out aboutOver the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.I think we need to delve a little deeper.be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegalSeveral public figures are under investigation for corruption.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
investigate• We sent our reporter, Michael Gore, to investigate.• Police are investigating an explosion at the city store.• Hunt was investigated for more than a year before he was arrested.• The commission will investigate the cause of the accident, focusing especially on safety issues.• The FBI has been called in to investigate the murder.From Longman Business Dictionaryinvestigatein‧ves‧ti‧gate /ɪnˈvestɪgeɪt/ verb [intransitive, transitive] to try to discover the truth about a crime, accident etcThe fraud office isinvestigating allegations of insider trading by a former employee of the firm. —investigation noun [countable, uncountable]a bankerunder criminal investigationa federal investigation into junk bond trading —investigator noun [countable]a government investigator→ See Verb tableOrigin investigate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of investigare “to follow the track of”, from vestigium “track”in·ves·ti·gate verb →REGISTER1 →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
to out the try find Business to about truth Corpus
investigate
in‧ves‧ti‧gate W2 AC /ɪnˈvestəɡeɪt, ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/
verb
The state police are investigating the incident.
The study investigates the impact of violent TV programming on children.
I heard a noise and went downstairs to investigate.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something:
▪I’ll ask my colleague to look into it.
2. [transitive] to try to find out more about someone’s character, actions etc, because you think they may have been involved in a crime:
Penney was already being investigated by the police on suspicion of murder.
▪ investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem: Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre. | The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour. | There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
▪look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this: The manager promised to look into my complaint. | Please could you look into the matter for me?
▪explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do: Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism. | I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
▪probe [intransitive and transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions: The press began probing into the actor’s private life. | We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
▪delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about: Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers. | I think we need to delve a little deeper.
▪be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal: Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.
in‧ves‧ti‧gate W2 AC /ɪnˈvestəɡeɪt, ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/
verb Word Family: noun: investigation, investigatory; adjective: investigative, investigatory; verb: investigate
Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: past participle of investigare 'to follow the track of', from vestigium 'track'
1. [intransitive and transitive] to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:Language: Latin
Origin: past participle of investigare 'to follow the track of', from vestigium 'track'
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something:
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2. [transitive] to try to find out more about someone’s character, actions etc, because you think they may have been involved in a crime:
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Committing a crime 犯罪
commit a crime/a murder/a violent assault/a brutal killing/an armed robbery/fraud犯罪／谋杀罪／暴力侵犯他人身体罪／残杀罪／持械抢劫罪／诈骗罪 be involved in terrorism/a suspected arson attack/people smuggling/human trafficking参与恐怖主义活动；涉嫌纵火袭击；参与人口走私／人口贩卖 engage/participate in criminal activity/illegal practices/acts of mindless vandalism参与犯罪活动／非法活动／愚昧的故意毁坏他人财产的行为 steal sb's wallet/purse/( mobile phone/BrE ( cell phoneNAmE 偷某人的钱包／手机 rob a bank/a person/a tourist抢劫银行／他人／游客 break into/ ( BrE burgle/ ( NAmE burglarize a house/a home/an apartment入室盗窃 hijack a plane/ship/bus劫持飞机／轮船／公共汽车 smuggle drugs/weapons/arms/immigrants走私毒品／武器／军火；偷运移民 launder drug money (through sth)（通过…）洗毒资 forge documents/certificates/passports伪造文件／证件／护照 take/accept/pay sb/offer (sb) a bribe索取／收受贿赂；向（某人）行贿 run a phishing/an email/an Internet scam进行网络钓鱼／电子邮件／互联网诈骗
Fighting crime 打击犯罪
combat/fight crime/terrorism/corruption/drug trafficking打击犯罪／恐怖主义／腐败／贩毒 prevent/stop credit-card fraud/child abuse/software piracy防止／阻止信用卡诈骗／虐待儿童／软件盗版 deter/stop criminals/burglars/thieves/shoplifters/vandals威慑／阻止犯罪分子／入室盗窃者／小偷／商店扒手／故意破坏公物者 reduce/tackle/crack down on knife/gun/violent/street crime/( antisocial behaviourespecially
BrE 减少／处理／严厉打击持刀／持枪／暴力／街头犯罪／反社会行为 foil a bank raid/a terrorist plot挫败一起银行抢劫案／一次恐怖分子的阴谋 help/support/protect the victims of crime帮助／支持／保护犯罪活动的受害者
Investigating crime 调查犯罪活动
report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/( an incident to the policeespecially
BrE 向警方举报不法行为／偷窃案／强奸案／袭击事件／暴力事件 witness the crime/attack/murder/incident目击犯罪／袭击／谋杀／暴力事件 investigate a murder/( a homicide/a burglary/a robbery/the alleged incidentespecially
NAmE 调查谋杀案／蓄意杀人案／入室盗窃案／抢劫案／涉嫌的暴力事件 conduct/launch/pursue an investigation (into…)/( a police/murder inquiryespecially
BrE 进行／开始／继续（对…的）调查／警方调查／谋杀案调查 investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case调查／重新审理犯罪／谋杀案件 examine/investigate/find fingerprints at the crime scene/the scene of crime仔细检查／调查／查找犯罪现场的指纹 collect/gather forensic evidence收集法医证据 uncover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons发现新证据／诈骗／欺诈／密谋／阴谋／政治腐败／私藏武器 describe/identify a suspect/the culprit/the perpetrator/the assailant/the attacker描述／指认嫌疑犯／罪犯／作恶者／攻击者／袭击者 question/interrogate a suspect/witness询问嫌疑人／目击证人 solve/crack the case破案