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examine - 7 dictionary results

ex⋅am⋅ine

  [ig-zam-in]
Use examine in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -ined, -in⋅ing.
1. 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 exāmen examen ) + -āre inf. ending

Related forms:
ex⋅am⋅in⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ex⋅am⋅i⋅na⋅to⋅ri⋅al  [ig-zam-uh-nuh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] , adjective
ex⋅am⋅in⋅er, noun
ex⋅am⋅in⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. search, probe, explore, study. 3. quiz.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To examine
ex·am·ine   (ĭg-zām'ĭn)   
tr.v.   ex·am·ined, ex·am·in·ing, ex·am·ines
    1. To observe carefully or critically; inspect: examined the room for clues.
    2. To study or analyze: examine a tissue sample under a microscope; examine the structure of a novel; examine one's own motives.
  2. To test or check the condition or health of: examine a patient.
  3. To determine the qualifications, aptitude, or skills of by means of questions or exercises.
  4. To question formally, as to elicit facts or information; interrogate: examine a witness under oath. See Synonyms at ask.

[Middle English examinen, from Old French examiner, from Latin exāmināre, from exāmen, a weighing out, from exigere, to weigh out; see exact.]
ex·am'in·a·ble adj., ex·am'in·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Examine

Ex*am"ine\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Examined; p. pr. & vb. n. Examining.] [L. examinare, examinatum, fr. examen, examinis: cf. F. examiner. See Examen.]

1. To test by any appropriate method; to inspect carefully with a view to discover the real character or state of; to subject to inquiry or inspection of particulars for the purpose of obtaining a fuller insight into the subject of examination, as a material substance, a fact, a reason, a cause, the truth of a statement; to inquire or search into; to explore; as, to examine a mineral; to examine a ship to know whether she is seaworthy; to examine a proposition, theory, or question.

Examine well your own thoughts. --Chaucer.

Examine their counsels and their cares. --Shak.

2. To interrogate as in a judicial proceeding; to try or test by question; as, to examine a witness in order to elicit testimony, a student to test his qualifications, a bankrupt touching the state of his property, etc.

The offenders that are to be examined. --Shak.

Syn: To discuss; debate; scrutinize; search into; investigate; explore. See Discuss.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : examine
Spanish: inspeccionar, examinar,
German: prüfen,
Japanese: くまなく調べる
More Translations »

examine 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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 examined the young men and found them in perfect health> examine intransitive senses
: to make or give an examination examine at theinfirmary>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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examine ex·am·ine (ĭg-zām'ĭn)
v. ex·am·ined, ex·am·in·ing, ex·am·ines

  1. To study or analyze an organic material.
  2. To test or check the condition or health of.
  3. To determine the qualifications, aptitude, or skills of by means of questions or exercises.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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