to inspect or scrutinize carefully: to examine a prospective purchase.
2.
to observe, test, or investigate (a person's body or any part of it), esp. in order to evaluate general health or determine the cause of illness.
3.
to inquire into or investigate: to examine one's motives.
4.
to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, etc.), as by questions or assigning tasks.
5.
to subject to legal inquisition; put to question in regard to conduct or to knowledge of facts; interrogate: to examine a witness; to examine a suspect.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < MF examiner < L exāmināre to weigh, examine, test, equiv. to exāmin- (s. of exāmenexamen) + -āre inf. ending]
c.1303, from O.Fr. examiner "to test, to try," from L. examinare "to test or try," from examen "a means of weighing or testing," probably ult. from exigere "weigh accurately" (see exact). First record of examination in the sense of "test of knowledge" is from 1612; shortened form exam first attested 1848.
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning; "analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare"; "analyze the evidence in a criminal trial"; "analyze your real motives" [syn: analyze]
2.
observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect; "The customs agent examined the baggage"; "I must see your passport before you can enter the country"
3.
question or examine thoroughly and closely [syn: probe]
4.
question closely
5.
put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to; "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe" [syn: test]
Main Entry: ex·am·ine Pronunciation: ig-'zam-&n Function: verb Inflected Forms: ex·am·ined;
ex·am·in·ing/-(&-)ni[ng]/ transitive senses : to inspect or test for evidence of disease or abnormality <the doctor
examined the young men and found them in perfect health> examineintransitive senses : to make or give an examination <the doctor will examine at the
infirmary>
Main Entry: ex·am·ine Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: ex·am·ined; ex·am·in·ing 1: to
investigate or inspect closely <examine the title> —compare AUDIT 2: to question closely esp.
in a court proceeding —compare DEPOSE
Dis*cuss"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discussed; p. pr. & vb. n. Discussing.] [L. discussus, p. p. of discutere to strike asunder (hence came the sense to separate mentally, distinguish); dis- + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.]1. To break to pieces; to shatter. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. 2. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors. Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection. --Sir H. Wotton. A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples. --Rambler. 3. To shake; to put away; to finish. [Obs.] All regard of shame she had discussed. --Spenser. 4. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . . discussed the farm . . . and the price of grain." --Tennyson. "To discuss questions of taste." --Macaulay. 5. To deal with, in eating or drinking. [Colloq.] We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us. --Sir S. Baker. 6. (Law) To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety. --Burrill. Syn: To Discuss, Examine, Debate. We speak of examining a subject when we ponder it with care, in order to discover its real state, or the truth respecting it. We speak of discussing a topic when we examine it thoroughly in its distinct parts. The word is very commonly applied to matters of opinion. We may discuss a subject without giving in an adhesion to any conclusion. We speak of debating a point when we examine it in mutual argumentation between opposing parties. In debate we contend for or against some conclusion or view.
Es"say\, n.; pl. Essays. [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf. examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue of a balance, exigere to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr. 'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to examine, 'exa`gein to drive out, export. See Agent, and cf. Exact, Examine, Assay.]1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend. "The essay at organization." --M. Arnold. 2. (Lit.) A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce. 3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.] Syn: Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition.
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Audio Help [ig-zam-in] Pronunciation Key 
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