n., pl., -ies, also -ies.
- The act of inquiring.
- A question; a query.
- A close examination of a matter in a search for information or truth.
SYNONYMS inquiry, inquest, inquisition, investigation, probe, research. These nouns denote a quest for knowledge, data, or truth: filed an inquiry about the lost shipment; holding an inquest to determine the cause of his death; an inquisition into her political activities; a criminal investigation; a probe into alleged police corruption; scientific research.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
