Research

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɹəˈsɜːtʃ/, /ˈɹiː.sɜːtʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)tʃ
• US IPA: /ˈɹi.sɝtʃ/; IPA: /ɹiˈsɝtʃ/

Origin

Early Modern French rechercher ("to examine closely"), from Old French recerchier ("to seek, to look for").

Full definition of research

Noun

1. (uncountable) Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts, principles, theories, applications, etc.; laborious or continued search after truth.
• 2012-01, Philip E. Mirowski, Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits, In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance.
2. (countable) A particular instance or piece of research.
• MacaulayThe dearest interests of parties have frequently been staked on the results of the researches of antiquaries.
• 1747, The Scots magazine (volume 9, page 567)The first step I took in this so necessary a research, was to examine the motives, the justice, the necessity and expediency of the revolution...

Synonyms

• researches
• investigation
• exploration
• examination
• study
• inquiry
• scrutiny

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently.
2. (intransitive) To make an extensive investigation into.
3. (transitive) To search again.

Anagrams

• searcher
• reachers
• re-search