examine

English

Alternative forms

• examin (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English examinen, examenen, from Old French examiner, from Latin exāmināre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ex‧am‧ine

Verb

examine (third-person singular simple present examines, present participle examining, simple past and past participle examined)

1. to observe or inspect carefully or critically

   He examined the crime scene for clues.

   She examined the hair sample under a microscope.

   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page vii:

     With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get […]

   • 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America‎^[1], archived from the original on 7 February 2019:

     The new study examines development activities for different AI technologies worldwide.

     Audio (US)

     (file)

   • Observe definition

     To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail. (1 of 4 observe definitions)

   • Inspect definition

     To examine critically or carefully; especially, to search out problems or determine condition; to scrutinize. (1 of 2 inspect definitions)

   • Careful definition

     Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious. (1 of 4 careful definitions)

   • Critical definition

     Inclined to find fault or criticize (1 of 8 critical definitions)
2. to check the health or condition of something or someone

   The doctor examined the patient.

   • Check definition

     A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece. (1 of 12 check definitions)

   • Health definition

     The state of being free from physical or psychological disease, illness, or malfunction; wellness. (1 of 7 health definitions)

   • Condition definition

     A logical clause or phrase that a conditional statement uses. The phrase can either be true or false. (1 of 8 condition definitions)
3. to determine the aptitude, skills or qualifications of someone by subjecting them to an examination

   • Determine definition

     To set the boundaries or limits of. (1 of 8 determine definitions)

   • Aptitude definition

     Natural ability to acquire knowledge or skill. (1 of 2 aptitude definitions)

   • Skill definition

     Capacity to do something well; technique, ability. Skills are usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities, which are often thought of as innate. (1 of 4 skill definitions)

   • Qualification definition

     The act or process of qualifying for a position, achievement etc. (1 of 5 qualification definitions)

   • Examination definition

     The act of examining. (1 of 4 examination definitions)
4. to interrogate

   The witness was examined under oath.

   • Interrogate definition

     to question or quiz, especially in a thorough and/or aggressive manner (1 of 3 interrogate definitions)

Synonyms

• pore over, undersee

Hyponyms

• cross examine
• re-examine

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• look at

French

Verb

examine

1. inflection of examiner:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

   • Examiner definition

     A person who investigates someone or something. (1 of 3 examiner definitions)

Latin

Noun

exāmine

1. ablative singular of exāmen

   • Examen definition

     examination; inquiry

Portuguese

Verb

examine

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of examinar

   • Eu definition

     ISO 639-1 language code for Basque.

   • Examinar definition

     to check, test (1 of 2 examinar definitions)
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of examinar

   • Ele definition

     the name of the Latin-script letter L.

   • Ela definition

     the name of the Latin-script letter L.

   • Você definition

     (1 of 4 você definitions)
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of examinar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of examinar

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eɡsaˈmine/, [eɣ̞.saˈmi.ne]

Verb

examine

1. inflection of examinar:
   1. first-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular present subjunctive
   3. third-person singular imperative